Top 10 Effective Strategies for Multiple-Choice Exams

The key word, also known as the 'key word,' in each question is the key to solving the problem. After reading each question, the first thing is to locate where the key word is. This helps you determine what the question is about and the answer will be closely related to that key word. It is considered a way for you to solve the question quickly and avoid getting off track or confusing answer data.

Before any changes, or in other words, a new exam format, the essential thing is that you have to get familiar with it. No one is skilled enough to adapt immediately to something new; this takes time to accumulate experience. Exams are the same, so starting now, you should solve more multiple-choice tests, gradually practice with multiple-choice questions, and you will find the mistakes you often encounter as well as find an optimal solution method for multiple-choice questions.

When you don't have a truly accurate answer, the process of elimination is an effective method to find the correct answer. Each question usually has 4 options, and the options often don't differ much in content. However, there is still a basis for you to use your own 'trick' to eliminate options with a bit of luck. Instead of trying to find the correct answer, try finding the wrong option... that's also a good method, and the more options you eliminate, the better. When you no longer have enough basis to eliminate, use the educated guessing method, notice which option seems more feasible and reliable, then circle it on the answer sheet... that's the last method for you.

Guessing and elimination here doesn't mean you randomly guess, but rather rely on information in the question. In many tests, there are one or two inappropriate answers (just reading them makes them seem inappropriate). Eliminating those options has helped you have more than a 25% chance of answering that question correctly. And finally, your luck if you choose the remaining options randomly based on speculation. This factor may sound like you're applying the formula of luck, but it's indispensable when taking a multiple-choice test.

Whether it's a Math test or a Social Sciences exam, you should apply the method of answering yourself before reading the answers on the test. This is especially true for exams related to History and Geography, where the answers are often very similar, making it easy to get confused. After reading the question, you should answer it yourself and then read the answer section to see if there is an option similar to the answer you gave. Don't rush to read the answers right away, as you may get distracted if your knowledge is not really solid.

A multiple-choice test doesn't require you to solve the problem; it only requires you to know the final result you mark in the answer box. With 50 multiple-choice questions, in just 90 minutes, on average, you should only spend about 1 and a half minutes per question. If you haven't found the answer within this allotted time, skip this question and move on to the next one, absolutely not clinging too much to a difficult problem and neglecting the easy ones.

Advice from admissions experts, if you focus too much on a question that you don't understand or can't answer, you are wasting time and losing morale, so it won't yield a high result for you. If you are confident about a certain answer, don't go back to change it. Reviewing the answer only makes you feel uncertain and is likely to change your mind.

The first thing is to quickly read through all the questions, mark the answers to the ones you know right away on the answer sheet (remember to use a pencil so you can correct the answer if necessary). After finishing the questions you are confident about, choose the easy ones to do first, because in a multiple-choice test, all questions have the same score range, unlike essay exams.

Therefore, difficult or easy questions all have the same score distribution, so you should do the easy ones first to ensure you get the maximum score. Pay attention to allocate time to not miss any questions; if you don't know the answer, use educated guessing or even luck—what you need is not to leave any answer blank, as it is an opportunity for you.

Another tip for candidates is to spend some last moments checking the exam, as calculations can easily have errors, even in the simplest parts. In the final moments, instead of focusing on solving a difficult problem hoping to find a solution, concentrate on reviewing errors in the questions you've already done.

For a multiple-choice test, candidates should not leave any question blank; they must answer all questions. Each question carries points, and there is no deduction for incorrect answers. So, remember: Skipping a question means losing points for that question. To have the opportunity to score the highest, you must choose the most reasonable answer for unanswered questions with the motto: Better to mark than to omit.

After reviewing the entire test twice, pay attention to find if there are any questions in the test that you have answered that can help you answer difficult questions. This tip is rarely used when taking exams, especially English exams. You should note that in exams, sometimes there are questions whose answers are in the questions that follow.