Hints for Answering Objective Test Questions

Multiple Choice Questions Help

Since more than one answer may have some “rightness” to it, your goal is to find the best answer rather than the right answer.

Read the question carefully before you look at the answer selections. Identify key words (“Tarzan words”) so you know what the question is asking.

Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers. Then see if you can find a match in the choices.

Read all the choices before choosing your answer.

If the best answer is not obvious, find what you would consider to be the worst answer and cross it out.

Next, look for one or two partial answers, ones that do not seem as strong as others, and cross them out.

Reducing the possibilities will increase your chances if you have to guess.

Look at the language of the answers:

• Answers with absolute words in them, words such as always, never, all, none, everyone, no one, none, and only usually live in incorrect answers.

• However, answers with mid-range qualifiers in them, words such as seldom, often, some, many, probably, most, and usually often live in correct answers.

If only certain multiple choice questions on the test have an "All of the above" or "None of the above” choice, "All of the above" or "None of the above” is likely correct.

Write a note in the margin to the instructor explaining your choice.

Desperation tips:

If all else fails and you must guess, try these tips:

• Pick the longest answer (the one with the most words).

• Pick an interior answer—one next to “B,” “C,” or “D,” particularly if it has the most words.

• If two answers are opposite--(for example, one answer says that a particular thing usually happens and the other says that the same thing seldom happens)--one of them is likely correct.

• Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information in it.

• Go with your first impression—do not change answers on a whim.

True-False Questions Help

Usually there are more true statements than false statements on most tests.

Look at the language of the answers:

• True-False statements with absolute words (0% or 100%) in them, words such as always, never, all, none, everyone, no one, none, and only are usually false.

• True-False statements with mid-range qualifiers in them, words such as seldom, often, some, many, usually, most, and probably are usually true.

Don’t second guess what you think the instructor must mean by a true-false statement. Take the true-false statement at face value.

Fill-the-blank Questions Help

Often answers to fill-the-blank questions can be found on other parts of the test.

Make sure what you put in the blank reads well in the sentence and is grammatical.

Matching Questions Help

Match the ones you know are correct and cross out the answers you used.

Work down only one column of the matching test rather than jump from one side to the other.