First of all let’s find out what multiple choice questions are. This is a kind of assignment designed to assess your knowledge in some particular field. You will be supposed to select or several correct answers out of several given. It is usually used in market research, in elections and educational testing, of course. It was invented almost 100 years ago and is considered to be quite productive and unbiased. Not all the items in multiple choice tests are formed as questions. For example, they can be presented in a form of some statement or equation.
So, a common multiple choice item usually consists of a certain problem to be solved (known as the stem) and a number of options for it. By the options we mean possible answers you can choose from. As a rule, the correct answer is called the key, while all the others are called distracters. In multiple choice tests only one answer is supposed to be chosen as the correct one. You will get some number of points that fill finally make your total mark. In case the chosen answer is incorrect you will not get a single point. In some multiple choice tests, like SAT, for example you will be even penalized for every incorrect answer!
There are not only simple items, but also the advanced ones. For example, the stem may include some table, graph or, perhaps, a detailed description for which you with several elements to it. Such kinds of stem usually end with a question that will give you a hint how to answer. For example, in a medical test you may find a long description of some symptoms and the question may ask “What diagnosis is the most likely one?”
A usual multiple choice question usually has such kind of structure:
Sensation, perception, and memory are of particular interest to which group of contemporary psychologists?
- a. psychoanalysts
- b. behaviorists
- c. humanistic psychologists
- d. cognitive psychologists
Where the correct answer is D
or
Which of the following is the capital of Estonia?
- a. Warsaw
- b.Stockholm
- c.Tallinn
- d.Vilnius
And here “C” is the right answer.
So, this is the general structure of multiple choice tests. It may seem quite easy, because you don’t have to write long explanations, but you should always be careful and always be prepared: using online writing tips or help of our MCQs service. The questions may seem to be easy, but they often contain some trap for you! So, be careful when preparing for a multiple choice test!
