More on mastering MCQ'S

 Watch your time.  Before you start writing, assess how much time you have per question.  Don’t spend too much time on any one question.  If you don’t know the answer, simply put an identifying mark in the margin, move on
to other questions, and come back to it later.  The answer will often come to you as you work your way through the test or exam.

 Underline qualifying words like “always,” “never,” etc.  These words are crucial because they can completely change the nature of the question.

 Read the stem thoroughly.  Then think of the answer in your mind.  But be sure to read all of the alternatives because the goal is to pick the best answer, not just one that is true.

 Watch for typos as clues to the best answer.  If one of the alternatives has a typo, it is probably not the key.  Test
writers usually pay a lot of attention to the proper wording and spelling of the key.
 Eliminate wrong answers and see what is left over.  Sometimes it is easier to identify the key if there are fewer alternatives to choose from.  In addition, it can be motivating to remove those options you know are incorrect.

 Beware of true statements that don’t address the stem.  Sometimes a test-writer will include true statements in the alternatives that don’t have anything to do with the question being asked.  This is because they know students will often pick a true statement simply because it looks familiar, even though it isn’t related to the stem at all.

 If two items have similar wording, one of the parallel statements is probably correct.  Students often struggle with those alternatives that look fairly similar. Once you eliminate the dissimilar alternatives, choose the option that gives the most complete information.

 In a question with an “all of the above” choice, if you see at least two true statements, then “all of the above” is the right answer.  This is self-explanatory.

 Be systematic with confusing MCQs with many alternatives, such as “all of the above,” “A, B and D,” etc.  Many students feel overwhelmed by MCQ’s that have many different alternatives to choose from.  Evaluate each alternative carefully.  It is tempting to read quickly but you must resist doing so in order to pick the best answer.

 Review your answers.  Always leave time to check your work.  That way, you’ll catch any careless errors, such as accidentally filling in the wrong bubble on your test sheet.