Everything about multiple choice questions

Callisonanne · Nov 12, 2009

When you first read the question cover the answers. Allow your brain to think about it before resorting to the answers below. That way you can think about when that topic was introduced in text or lecture. Then look at the answers and immediately cross out the answers that are wrong. The next part depends on the style of your instructor. If they take solely from the book then just find the one that is most right. However some like to do critical thinking and test your ability to decipher answers. In that case try to argue the answer in your head. If you can't provide enough evidence for it to be right then it probably isn't. Once you get all the way through go back and tally the ones you aren't positive about. That way when you leave the test you have an idea of the lowest grade you can possibly get. Even if you are mostly sure but may be wrong just tally it. Most likely you don't miss them all but if you do then you won't be surprised. Hopefully on some you were being overly cautious so your grade will be higher :specs:

BVP910 · Nov 12, 2009

When you first read the question cover the answers. Allow your brain to think about it before resorting to the answers below. That way you can think about when that topic was introduced in text or lecture. Then look at the answers and immediately cross out the answers that are wrong. The next part depends on the style of your instructor. If they take solely from the book then just find the one that is most right. However some like to do critical thinking and test your ability to decipher answers. In that case try to argue the answer in your head. If you can't provide enough evidence for it to be right then it probably isn't. Once you get all the way through go back and tally the ones you aren't positive about. That way when you leave the test you have an idea of the lowest grade you can possibly get. Even if you are mostly sure but may be wrong just tally it. Most likely you don't miss them all but if you do then you won't be surprised. Hopefully on some you were being overly cautious so your grade will be higher

That is EXACTLY what i do! lol

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

Unless specifically indicated otherwise, treat each question indepedently--don't assume that they are related to each other. Just because you answered one question a certain way doesn't mean that same type of answer will successfully apply to a similar question later on.

Read the question thoroughly. Highlight the important things such as data, what the question is asking, etc. Be sure to check whether the question asks you to "Select All That Apply."

Do not read into the question. If you start saying to yourself, "but what if...", you are reading into the question. Don't assume either. If the question says the patient is on O2 but doesn't mention anything about respiratory distress, don't automatically assume he's in respiratory distress because he's on O2.

Read each answer one at a time. If it's absolutely wrong, strike it out. Then read the remaining answers to see which one is the best.

When it comes to choosing answers, don't fall into the "there's four 'C's in a row, that can't be right" trap. Sometimes there are 4 or more Cs in a row. Sometimes the answers run A-B-C-D-A-B-C-D. Sometimes there is no pattern at all. Answer each question without considering what letter answer you chose before it.

And remember that with "Select All That Apply" questions, sometimes there may only be one correct choice. Yes, they're unfair. But "Select All That Apply" means that one or more may be right; it doesn't automatically mean there must be at least two answers.

Last, if you're using a scantron, be sure to double-check that you've colored in the right circle on the right question. Get into the habit of doing a final-check after you finish but before you turn it in. We had a classmate who had to repeat the class because she had skipped a line on her scantron and filled in the answers in the wrong spots.

Jules A, MSN · Nov 12, 2009

Get a good NCLEX review book, like Saunders, and practice the questions for every unit you cover in class. Pay special attention to the study guides from your text books and any websites your publishers offer with practice questions. If your school uses a test bank as many do you may see the exact same qeustions again on exams. Answering lots of questions and reading the rationales will get your mindset more familiar with these type questions. Good luck and great question because mastering these is crucial to get through nursing school unscathed, imo.

scg08rn · Nov 12, 2009

I always read the answers first, not the question first. Then I read the question, and place rationales with them, go through the question again and eliminate those that don't relate to the question. Elimination usually leaves you with 2 answers, then re-read the question and ask yourself, based on your knowledge, what the answer is. Never picture beyond what the questions ask-never place "what if's" in your head, that is when wrong answers are usually chosen. Never relate previous questions with each other, unless indicated. Lots of NCLEX review questions will help with refreshing your knowledge and lowering stress during test-taking.

Never rush. :)

nursej22, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

You can pick up clues from reading the question carefully, i.e. if it asks for pleural, then look for an answer that is pleural; if it asks for an action, then choose an answer that is an action.

Look out for double negatives, I will cross them out in pairs to make things clearer.

if question reads as "all of the following are correct except" cross out each correct to keep yourself from getting mixed up.

If you absolutely don't even have a good guess, the longest answer is usually the correct one.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2009

You can pick up clues from reading the question carefully, i.e. if it asks for pleural, then look for an answer that is pleural; if it asks for an action, then choose an answer that is an action.

Look out for double negatives, I will cross them out in pairs to make things clearer.

if question reads as "all of the following are correct except" cross out each correct to keep yourself from getting mixed up.

If you absolutely don't even have a good guess, the longest answer is usually the correct one.