Multiple choice test taking advice please!

[Snesley Wipes]

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I am a P1 and attaining B's and some A's, but more B's on all of my multiple choice tests (law, biochem, etc...). I am comfortable with most of the material I am learning this first year but prefer to not "overstudy" and certainly not "overstress" over all of our upcoming multiple choice tests.

Can anybody offer specific multiple choice test taking strategies that could possibly give me an edge when I am in doubt?

Thx,
Snes

 

[Megas]

Just the same silly stuff you've heard before, like think of the answer first, then see if it's there, narrow your options down to two answers, your first guess is usually your best guess, etc. etc.

 

[Knipps]

Just the same silly stuff you've heard before, like think of the answer first, then see if it's there, narrow your options down to two answers, your first guess is usually your best guess, etc. etc.

You'd think I'd have learned that one by now 😡
on 2 separate tests I've changed my answer only to regret it

 

[fenixtnlfan]

You'd think I'd have learned that one by now 😡
on 2 separate tests I've changed my answer only to regret it

Yeah, that seems to be my favorite thing to do on our immunology exams!

Sometimes you can get a hint or answer for a question from other questions on the test. Professors don't always realize they put a hint in another question.

 

[confettiflyer]

Rephrase the answer into a statement incorporating the question. Example:

1) Which of the following prostaglandins does aspirin MOST inhibit
a) prostacyclin
b) cyclooxygenase
c) thromboxane A2
d) a & b
e) b & c

So you would say:
a) aspirin most inhibits prostacyclin
b) aspirin most inhibits cyclooxygenase
c) aspirin most inhibits thromboxane A2
yada yada...

I've found that the sheer amount of information, even in a simple question like this, can overload a student when they're flying 10000mph on a timed test. So a trick is to slow it down and rephrase the responses.

Second is to be wary of what I call "restrictions" on the answer, in this case, it is the word "MOST." It's words like "best," "least," "except," etc... you can read a question, understand a meaning, then hit this word, and it'll technically reverse the meaning you've pulled from the question.

In my question above, "MOST" will automatically knock out answers d and e, since "most" means one. Look for these "automatic knock outs" (there's another one I'll share in a second). Auto knock outs help greatly when you're faced with I, II, III, I and III, II and III questions. By eliminating just one statement, you're guaranteed to knock out at least 2/5 of the answers. By knowing/discounting 2/3 of the statements, you'll get the answer. Not bad for knowing only 2/3. Anyway, back to the question:

So the following should be taking place in your head:

a) aspirin most inhibits prostacyclin
I know it inhibits this....I'll keep this answer, for now...
b) aspirin most inhibits cyclooxygenase
This is true, but the question asked for a prostaglandin, this is an enzyme. Auto knock out!
c) aspirin most inhibits thromboxane A2
Okay, between the two...I know this is more inhibited. This is the answer!

and just for kicks, since d/e asked for a&b, b&c, since you knocked out b, these are both knocked out by association.

So the answer is C, aspirin preferentially inhibits thromboxane A2.

Anyway, you get the idea. This sounds labor intensive but you should be able to crank out those statements on the fly and within seconds of reading the question. I'm pretty liberal when it comes to marking up a test as well. Hope this helps.

 

[kbv]

You'd love the K-type questions.

 

[Snesley Wipes]

Confetti, I like the way you think. These are the kinds of strategies I am trying to learn. Those "key" words that eliminate and increase my chances statistically of guessing correctly.

 

[Lurkerkat]

I always write on my test a lot. I'll read the question, underline keywords and anything that immediately comes to mind. For your P2 year (from IOS 3 and on) you'll have a lot of test questions based off of short case studies. I always determine what the patient's pertinent goals are, what contraindications might pop up, and such before I even look at the individual test questions and the answer choices. I'll write that all out in the margin.

Then I'll look at the answer choices and cross out the ones that I know are wrong. This is extremely helpful for K-type questions. For example:

I. blah
II. blah blah
III. blah blah blah

a) I
b) II
c) I & II
d) I & III
e) I, II, & III

I look at the options and I know (II) is wrong, so I cross it out, go through and eliminate all of the options that include (II) and I cross out all of those answers. Right there I've reduced it to (a) or (d). This also helps me from getting confused. It also works well for normal multiple choice questions so that way you aren't distracted or swayed by the wrong answers.

Last when I look over my test I only change my answer if I have an epiphany or I realize I completely misread the question. If I'm waffling between two answers, I stick to my first guess. If I start reading too much into a question, I leave my original answer.

It usually takes me about 1 to 1.25 hours to finish the test so I still have plenty of time.

 

[Snesley Wipes]

Cool thanks Lurkerkat. Sounds like some good tips. I appreciate the feedback!

 

[MindOverMatter]

I think your approach should primarily rely on the professor, and how he forms his/her test questions. Unfortunately, you have to go through a test or two to figure this out (unless there are old tests floating around), but once you figure this out you can adjust your study/test taking habits.

 

[Old Timer]

Old Timers Rules for Taking Multiple Choice Tests

1. Study. If you are not prepared, you will never get the grades you want. Also each year builds on the next. Stuff you learn now you will be using the rest of your academic career.
2. Read all of the questions first.
3. Read the questions carefully. Watch for double negatives and poorly crafted questions.
4. Answer the questions where you are 100% sure of the answer.
5. Skip the questions where you have no clue and go back to them later.
6. Review your answer sheet to make sure the right answers are in the right block.
7. Avoid changing your answers.

 

[deleted205891]

I hate to say it, but Bs on some tests are perfectly good (especially on ones that have averages of 75 or less). Sometimes it just helps to look at the class average, and seeing how high above it you did, and even if you didn't get an A, you'll still feel good if your grade was significantly above avg.

Chances are that you won't get As on everything in pharmacy school. Heck, when I took anatomy (6-year program) I think there was only 1 pure A (not A- or anything) out of our class of 150 or so.

 

[Pharmacy Kid]

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/columns/?article=testingtips

 

[Snesley Wipes]

2. Read all of the questions first.

Do you mean to read all of the questions once without answering them all the way through?

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/columns/?article=testingtips

Thanks Pharmacy Kid, this is what I was looking for!

 

[Pharmacy Kid]

. . . prefer to not "overstudy" and certainly not "overstress" over all of our upcoming multiple choice tests.

Can anybody offer specific multiple choice test taking strategies that could possibly give me an edge when I am in doubt?

Thx,
Snes

Heh, you sound like me. I try to get the highest possible grades with the least amount of studying. It's all about efficient studying. If you study the right material and eliminate all the irrelevant stuff, you'll score higher and have more time to play.

 

[QWIK83]

If you absolutely are stumped and have to guess, guess the better of B or C

 

[Sparda29]

See that's the thing, I'm used to a style where if there is a choice like "all of the above" or "none of the above", I automatically pick that option without thinking because I was told that it wouldn't have been placed there if it wasn't the answer.

I guess there is more trickery in grad school.

 

[Snesley Wipes]

Most of our answers are:
A) xxx
B) xxx
C) xxx
D) A and B
E) A and C
F) All of the above / None of the above

 

[naseuy]

See that's the thing, I'm used to a style where if there is a choice like "all of the above" or "none of the above", I automatically pick that option without thinking because I was told that it wouldn't have been placed there if it wasn't the answer.

I guess there is more trickery in grad school.

Every question on my biochem test has either one of both of those options.

 

[deleted205891]

Here was a test I just took

Q: Question (20 of them, all of about the same format)

A:
A)Insanely obscure answer
B)Answer that somewhat makes sense if you studied
C)Insanely obscure answer
D)All of the above

or
A:
A)insanely obscure answer
B)Relatively straightforward answer
C)Kinda obscure answer
D)A and B
E)B and C

On those, I guess you just have to try to read between the lines and try to remember if you even talked abut the insanely obscure answers (or at least in theory, not in the specific application of the problem).

 

[OleMiss2012]

Just pick "C".

 

[Sparda29]

Rephrase the answer into a statement incorporating the question. Example:

1) Which of the following prostaglandins does aspirin MOST inhibit
a) prostacyclin
b) cyclooxygenase
c) thromboxane A2
d) a & b
e) b & c

So you would say:
a) aspirin most inhibits prostacyclin
b) aspirin most inhibits cyclooxygenase
c) aspirin most inhibits thromboxane A2
yada yada...

I've found that the sheer amount of information, even in a simple question like this, can overload a student when they're flying 10000mph on a timed test. So a trick is to slow it down and rephrase the responses.

Second is to be wary of what I call "restrictions" on the answer, in this case, it is the word "MOST." It's words like "best," "least," "except," etc... you can read a question, understand a meaning, then hit this word, and it'll technically reverse the meaning you've pulled from the question.

In my question above, "MOST" will automatically knock out answers d and e, since "most" means one. Look for these "automatic knock outs" (there's another one I'll share in a second). Auto knock outs help greatly when you're faced with I, II, III, I and III, II and III questions. By eliminating just one statement, you're guaranteed to knock out at least 2/5 of the answers. By knowing/discounting 2/3 of the statements, you'll get the answer. Not bad for knowing only 2/3. Anyway, back to the question:

So the following should be taking place in your head:

a) aspirin most inhibits prostacyclin
I know it inhibits this....I'll keep this answer, for now...
b) aspirin most inhibits cyclooxygenase
This is true, but the question asked for a prostaglandin, this is an enzyme. Auto knock out!
c) aspirin most inhibits thromboxane A2
Okay, between the two...I know this is more inhibited. This is the answer!

and just for kicks, since d/e asked for a&b, b&c, since you knocked out b, these are both knocked out by association.

So the answer is C, aspirin preferentially inhibits thromboxane A2.

Anyway, you get the idea. This sounds labor intensive but you should be able to crank out those statements on the fly and within seconds of reading the question. I'm pretty liberal when it comes to marking up a test as well. Hope this helps.

But really, is there any point in putting choices D or E into the mix other than throwing you off?

 

[Knipps]

But really, is there any point in putting choices D or E into the mix other than throwing you off?

sometimes on the off chance, they're right.

 

[confettiflyer]

But really, is there any point in putting choices D or E into the mix other than throwing you off?

OH i've seen them used as the right answer...depends how tricky the answer is.

I think if I ever become a pharmacy professor, I'll administer tests that will make people cry with answers that extend out to F and G. haha...but i'd curve generously at the end.