What makes a bad multiple choice question?
Asked by: Pearline Prohaska | Last update: February 4, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (71 votes)
A bad multiple-choice question is unclear, tricky, or tests memorization over understanding, featuring confusing wording, grammatically inconsistent options, or clues like "all/none of the above" that give away answers, while good questions have plausible distractors and assess higher-order thinking, not just recall, ensuring all choices are similar in length and detail.
Why are multiple-choice questions bad?
One of the primary issues with multiple-choice quizzes and exams is that they encourage rote memorization of information rather than promoting deeper learning. Students can often pass multiple-choice tests with little or no understanding of the underlying concepts.
Should I guess b or c?
When guessing on multiple-choice tests, sticking to one letter (like B or C) is often better than random flipping, with some test data suggesting B or C can be slightly more frequent, but the best approach depends on the test; use elimination first, then pick one consistent letter (like 'C' as a common "safe bet" strategy) for remaining questions, as no single letter guarantees success, but consistency beats pure randomness.
Is C always the correct answer?
No, "C" is not inherently the correct answer more often; it's a popular myth, but major standardized tests aim for an even distribution (around 25% for each letter). While some studies show slight variations (like B being slightly more common in one SAT set), the best strategy is to eliminate wrong answers first, and if guessing blindly, stick to one letter (like C) consistently to improve your odds over time rather than randomly changing letters.
How to outsmart a multiple-choice test?
When you come to a question that you don't know the answer to, you can increase your odds by eliminating answers you know to be incorrect. Physically cross them out if you can. If you can narrow it down to two or three answers, you'll increase your odds for guessing correctly from the remaining answer choices.
5 Rules (and One Secret Weapon) for Acing Multiple Choice Tests
Should I guess B or C on the ACT?
You should pick one letter (like B or C) and stick with it for all your guesses on the ACT because the answer choices are randomized, meaning no single letter is inherently better, but consistency guarantees you'll get roughly 25% of your guessed questions right (or 20% on Math), which is better than random guessing or leaving them blank. So, if you prefer B or C, use that as your consistent letter for blind guesses, but don't expect C to be more frequent than A, B, or D, as it's distributed evenly.
What is the most common answer on a multiple choice test?
I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.
How to get 100% in every test?
Getting 100% on every test requires consistent, active learning, eliminating careless errors, understanding the teacher's expectations, and strong test-taking habits, focusing on deep comprehension through techniques like active recall, spaced repetition, and practicing problems from notes/homework until you can do them perfectly without aids, all while ensuring proper sleep, nutrition, and time management to minimize errors.
What is the 21 question rule?
To play 21 Questions, one person thinks of a person, place, or thing, and the others ask up to 21 yes/no questions to guess it, winning if they guess within the limit or losing if they don't. Alternatively, it's a popular conversation game where two or more people ask each other personal questions to get to know each other better, often with pre-planned or freestyle questions, and can include rules for skipping questions.
What is the best guess on a multiple choice test?
When numerical options vary greatly, chances are that the best response is in the middle ranges. Eliminate the highest and lowest options. Certain questions have answers that are closely related or almost identical, except for one detail. This should be your clue to choose one of the two similar answers.
What are common multiple choice mistakes?
Grammatical Flaws
For example, if the stem asks for a pleural answer, don't include singular options in the choices. This is also true for nouns and verbs. Do not use verbs in the choices if the question seeks a noun answer. Cues. Another common grammatical mistake is to provide cues.
What is the most common letter in multiple choice?
For most of the ACT, there is no “best” letter to guess. Except… at the end of the Math section — then there is a best letter to guess on the ACT. Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.
What does p(a) ∩ b') mean?
P(A ∩ B) indicates the probability of A and B, or, the probability of A intersection B means the likelihood of two events simultaneously, i.e. the probability of happening two events at the same time. There exist different formulas based on the events given, whether they are dependent events or independent events.
Why do I do so bad on multiple-choice tests?
Misreading the Question
The single most frequent error students make in a multiple choice examination is to misread, and therefore misinterpret the questions. Many students read the possible answers to the question before they have checked to insure that they understand he question.
What's the hardest test to pass?
Top 10 Toughest Exams in the United States
- NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) ...
- GRE (Graduate Record Examination) ...
- MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) ...
- GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) ...
- MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination) ...
- AP Exams (Advanced Placement)
Why do some smart people do poorly on standardized tests?
Overachieving students can be particularly susceptible to this problem because they feel like they have to get a top score in order to get into the best colleges. Feeling stressed or anxious while taking the test can cause you to make silly mistakes and forget information and strategies you've learned.
What are 10 deep questions?
10 questions to ask to know someone on the deepest level
- What does happiness mean to you, and how do you pursue it?
- How do you define success in life?
- What core values guide your actions and decisions?
- Do you have a personal philosophy that shapes your outlook on life?
- What do you think the purpose of life is?
How long do you have to answer the 1% question?
They only have 30 seconds to answer and there is no talking during that time in the studio. The talking to contestants is done between questions.
What does it mean if a guy asks to play 21 questions?
The 21 questions game involves asking your bestie, brother, or [insert name of your crush here] a series of questions that will help you dig deeper into your relationship. How deep you want to go is completely up to you – just tailor the questions to keep things light, or go juicy, if you dare.
Which is the no. 1 toughest exam?
The top 5 toughest exams in the world are generally considered to be:
- Gaokao (China)
- IIT-JEE (India)
- UPSC Civil Services Exam (India)
- CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
- USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination)
How to be a 1% student?
To be "that one student" who excels, focus on deep understanding over grades, develop strong habits like consistent study, note-taking, and asking questions, manage time with planners and techniques like Pomodoro, stay engaged in class by sitting upfront and participating, and build connections through extracurriculars, all while taking care of your well-being and finding effective learning methods.
What is the 6174 trick in math?
The 6174 number trick, known as Kaprekar's Routine, involves taking any four-digit number (with at least two different digits), arranging its digits to form the largest and smallest possible numbers, and subtracting the smaller from the larger; this process, repeated, always leads to the number 6174 within seven steps, making it a mathematical constant.
Should I guess ABC or D?
The truth is that it doesn't matter which letter you pick, only that you stick to the one you choose. The best strategy, and the one that will maximize your overall point gain, is to pick your favorite letter and fill it in for every blind guess.
Should you always pick C?
Feel free to pick (C) if you'd like, but know that any LOTD you choose is likely to get you some points in the long run if you use it consistently. If you guess on 20 questions over the course of the test, about 5 of those should match your LOTD.
How to always pass a multiple choice test?
Use these five tips to help you ace the multiple choice questions on your tests and exams.
- Read the questions carefully. Make sure you understand what the question is asking. ...
- Answer the question without looking at the options. ...
- Eliminate the incorrect options. ...
- Answer all the questions. ...
- Manage your time.