Multiple choice exam tips
Here’s a few tips on getting the correct answer on an MCQ when you really have no idea! I repeat this is to be used only when you have no idea!!!!! These tips below are proven to statistically give better results than leaving things to pure chance alone.
1. All of the Above = go for it!
The idea is that often the question asks for the most completely correct answer. As this is a very inclusive statement, this is more often correct than chance should suggest.
2. Do not go for absolutes such as "never," "always," "is," "are," "guarantees," "ensures." Such statements are highly restrictive and very difficult to defend. They are rarely (though they may sometimes be!) correct options.
3. For the reason above go for options containing phrases "may sometimes be," or "can occasionally result in."
4. Do not go for "jargon-filled” options. These are frequently used as decoys.
5. Go for the longest option! Often to make the answer completely correct and extra clause will be added by the examiner.
6. Go for the middle answer. If the options are 5, 12, 9, 3 - go for 5 or 9. This is because it is only human for the examiner to give options below and above the correct answer rather than all of them below or all of them above.
7. Go for the one of the options that look like each other. For example, if the options are 12f, 35f, 16f and 12a. Go for 12a or 12f. This is the examiner trying to be clever but actually helping us! It works very often.
Finally, If you have absolutely no idea what the answer is, can't use any of the above techniques, and there is no scoring penalty for guessing, choose option C. Studies indicate that these are correct slightly more often than would be predicted by chance alone. This is due again to the same reasons as the number 6. Please remember these are only to help you guess! They are better than chance alone but no more than that!
Try this in F1 to F3 ACCA exams or come see me in Malta!
