Multiple choice questions and exams are a double-edged sword for students. On the one hand, they are often easier than essay exams because you do not need to know a topic as in-depth as you must for essay questions.
However, you need to know a broader scope of topics in order to pass the exam. It can be a blessing and a curse, all in one. So check out the tips in this post for answering multiple-choice exam questions and the video explains a lot as well.
Why Multiple Choice Exams are A Curse
When taking an essay test, you are being tested on only a few subjects that you need to know, but you need to know them inside and out to pass an essay test.
When taking a multiple-choice test, you can be tested on a wide range of subjects and the questions can range from being very general to very specific. You have to be prepared to know all of the course material in order to pass your multiple-choice tests.
In an essay exam, you can always bulk up what you do know by adding a lot of fluff or filler content to your essay. There is no room for that sort of tactic here, you either know the answer or you do not.
Another downfall is that multiple-choice questions can be written so that they are ambiguous, making it hard to determine how to determine the answer.
Why Multiple Choice Exams are A Blessing
With an essay question, there is always a chance that you will have no idea what the answer is. With a multiple-choice test, you know that at least one of the answers given is correct so that even if you do not know what the answer is, you still have a chance of getting it right, simply by being lucky enough to choose the right answer.
Multiple choice questions are typically testing your memory about facts; you will have to rely upon your memory even if you’ve taken a gap year after your high school years.
Essay questions often have you analyzing the question, meaning you have to demonstrate that you not only know the content but can apply the information in new ways. Additionally, with multiple-choice questions, each question is usually worthless, so you have more room for error than you would on an essay question.
Study Tips for Multiple Choice Exams
If you do not study for your exam, you will be in trouble. You’ve got to be a hustler and give it all you’ve got. Because multiple choice exams require knowledge of specific facts and dates, you need to be prepared before entering the exam.
The more you review your notes and study materials, the more you will retain the information. Make a habit of reviewing your notes every few days and then again the day before your test.
Constantly reviewing your notes will help boost your retention power and you will find that taking tests is no longer as stressful as it used to be because you will be better prepared.
Last-minute exam tips for end of semester exams
As we’re winding down there for the holidays, not everyone is as fortunate as us. Some folks have end-of-year exams looming.
Exam paper keywords are all about the common phrases from exam papers and how they direct or guide you to answering an exam question accurately. Some of the keywords sound similar but can mean quite different things, an example you’ll see will be “outline” and “describe” – one requires a shorter answer while the other needs greater detail.
These articles won’t do the study for you ahead of the exam but it will offer tips on how to maximize everything you have done in the lead up to the exam. By not panicking and taking a calm approach to the exam paper you should be able to address each question and identify what you are being asked for.
From here, you can structure a solid answer that gets the data from inside your head onto the paper in front of you. For tips on writing a research paper, check out this post. Best of luck with the exams.