Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs - Part II

In Part 2 of this series of tip for appearing in MCQ based Exams, we will cover the points to be taken into account, while solving the paper. So you must keep an eye on the following:-

• As soon as you get the test paper, look at it and plan your time. don’t just throw yourself into answering the question paper. 
• What are the total number of questions?
• How many sections?
• Which question is worth solving than others?
• Once you have gone through the entire paper, pace yourself such that you finish the paper 10 minutes before the actual time limit. This will allow you to check some silly mistakes, left questions or over read questions.

• Try taking frequent breaks in the middle of the exam by stopping and closing your eyes, taking a deep breath. This will clear your mind of all the stress and help you to stay fresh during the whole exam.
• If you are completely lost and not able to solve the problems, here are some strategies to narrow the field and select correct answers.
• Ask yourself whether the answer you are considering completely addresses the question. If the test answer is only partly correct only under certain narrow conditions, then it’s probably not the right answer.
• If you think that the question posed is a tricky one then think again. Very few instructors would ever write a question intended to be deceptive. 
• If you suspect that the question is a tricky item, make sure you are not reading too much into the question, and try to avoid imagining detailed scenarios in which the answer could be true.
• In most cases tricky questions are only tricky because they are not taken at face value.
• For every MCQ question on the test you have 2 options

• Solve the problem directly.
• The Process of elimination.

Let’s discuss the first option. In general, solving the problem might always be faster than the process of elimination.

If you are not so comfortable with the topic or the question then choosing elimination will be the best choice. 

Solving the Problem:

Solving the problem is the most straightforward way to reach your answer as long as you feel comfortable with the lesson or the subject being tested. 

It’s mainly a two step process - 

• Step-1:   Read the question but don’t look at the answer. Try to understand the question. Rephrase it if you don’t understand the question and then devise a concrete plan to solve it. Solve the problem.
• Step-2:   Once you solve the problem –only then see if your answer is listed among the answer choices. We can’t stress enough that if you are trying to solve the problem directly, you should avoid looking at the answer choices until the end.
• Since trap answers are often the values you would get at the halfway point of the process of working out the problem if you peek at the choices you may get tricked into thinking you have solved the question before you actually have.

The Technique of Elimination:

• Every MCQ has options in which one is correct. So you need to check each option which one works. On certain occasions working backwards could actually be the faster method then just solving the problem directly. 
• Do work backward when the question describes an equation of some sort and answer choices are all rather simple numbers. Don’t work backwards when dealing with answer choices that contain variables or complicated fractions. 
• This technique can only be mastered by regular practice. Whenever you solve an MCQ at home always try out solving it using the elimination process only after solving it in subjective manner.

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If you are preparing for an MCQ-based exam then firstly you must know "What are MCQs and how are they prepared?". Then you must also read the "Best Method for Preparing for MCQs", "Top 5 Mistakes Made by Students while Preparing for MCQs" so that you can avoid falling in those pit-falls and lastly you must read the "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-1"!

Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs - Part I

Good preparation is only half the battle in an MCQ exam, and technique is equally important. MCQs can be deliberately tricky, with the aim of sorting the 'wheat from the chaff'. You may get the feeling that the examiners are trying to trip you up - this is because they are, and you need to be wise to their strategies.

To this end, we've complied another list of tips, this time to help you perfect your MCQ answering technique:

• Most importantly, READ the questions. Careless reading results in needless - and potentially costly - mistakes. If you miss the word 'not' in the stem (which of these is not a symptom of...) you could end up with a score of - 5 for just one question!
• Pace yourself and don't spend too long on one question.
• If you don't know the answer, move on and return to the question at the end.
• If you leave a question, be extremely careful to leave the corresponding answer box blank: if you put the wrong answer in the wrong box, you'll get all the questions wrong!
• Trust your instincts: your initial answer (or guess) is most likely to be right.
• An educated guess or an attempt to deduce the right answer is often better than leaving it blank. The student BMJ recommends always answering at least 90% of the questions in an MCQ exam (see 'analysing your score for more information on this).
• Be on the lookout for double negatives (not uncommon, not infrequently both mean often).
• Answers that contain words like always and never are less likely to be correct (there are very few certainties in medicine). Statements that contain sometimes, may or might are more likely to be correct.
• Beware of the word typically; this means 'usually'. There might be an option given that's correct, but rare - this is not 'typical'.
• Other 'intermediate' words include characteristically, mostly and sometimes, but how should you interpret these intermediate words? We've made some suggestions...

All, always, invariably, characteristically: 100%
Usual, mostly, very frequently: >75%
Often, common, frequently: 50-75%
Sometimes, occasionally: 25-50%
Rarely, very occasionally: <5%
None, never: 0%

• Longer, more specific answers are more likely to be correct (that's more likely, not definitely).
• Beware also of completion statements containing more than one piece of information - make sure both bits are correct.
• Answers containing numbers (25% of patients experience...) are most likely to either be correct, or completely wrong. If you know that a symptom is very common, then 25% is likely to be wrong, but if you now that roughly 1 in 4 patients will display this symptom it's likely to be correct. Be wary of very precise figures - 19.3% of patients... they are unlikely to be correct.

Leave time at the end of the exam to check for glaring errors - but don't go changing answers you're not sure about, remember, your first guess is most likely to be right.
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If you are preparing for an MCQ-based exam then firstly you must know "What are MCQs and how are they prepared?". Then you must also read the "Best Method for Preparing for MCQs", "Top 5 Mistakes Made by Students while Preparing for MCQs" so that you can avoid falling in those pit-falls and lastly you must read the "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-2" !

Best Method to Prepare for MCQ-Based Exam

Preparing for an MCQ-based exam is completely different from preparation method for all other types of exams. You need to direct your energies in the right way, otherwise you will continue to study and still get No Output!

Coming straight to the point, I shall be telling you the best method (Tested and Proven by Experts) to prepare for an MCQ-based exam. So how do you prepare for an MCQ exam? I've compiled a list of tips:

• Revise everything, and don't try to 'question spot'. MCQ exams can cover an awful lot of material - that's the point.
• Make sure your knowledge is sufficiently specific. MCQs can be highly specific, so a general knowledge of an area might not be enough.
• However, a good broad knowledge is helpful when attempting to deduce the correct answer to a question you're unsure of.
• Practice, practice, practice and then do some more practice. Gather together as many questions as you can lay your hands on.
• Make sure your practice MCQs cover material that's relevant to your course; there's no point in learning things you won't be asked.
• Pile on the pressure by practicing under exam conditions. This will help you become accustomed to answering questions against the clock, and allow you to accurately judge how much time you can allow for each question.
• Get hold of the Exam Answering Sheets or similar sheets and practice in real time.
• If you try to recreate exam conditions when you practice, you'll find your memory will be triggered under similar conditions in the exam hall.
• Revise the things you don't know. Sounds obvious, but you're actually more likely to spend time on topics you already know - it's more fun and can be better for morale. Be brave, and tackle your weakest areas (neurology?!) first.
• Revise with friends; it's easier to stay motivated - and much more fun! You can share knowledge this way too. Make sure you revise with friends of a similar ability - there's nothing more depressing than finding everyone else knows more than you do. Alternatively, if you relish a challenge, try revising with the best and brightest - they may inspire you to raise your game.
• On the day of the exam, make sure you're clear about the exam format: how many questions are there? How long have you got? Will there be negative marking?

If you are preparing for an MCQ-based exam then firstly you must know "What are MCQs and how are they prepared?". Then you must have a knowledge about the "Common Mistake made by students while preparing for MCQ exam" and lastly you must read the  "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-1" and "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-2" !

Top 5 MCQ Mistakes while Preparing for MCQ-based Exam

A common mistake made by the MCQ novice is believing that MCQs are only a test of memory, and if you have perfect recall of everything you've been taught, you can't fail. However, although they do test your ability to recall facts, MCQs can also test your ability to interpret information and apply knowledge to both familiar and unfamiliar scenarios. Success in MCQ tests is not simply a case of memorising everything you've been taught.
Some of the most common mistakes committed by students while preparing for MCQ-based exams are as follows:-

• Do not try to memorize everything. Learn with logic and relate information between different books on the same topic.
• The most difficult way to prepare for MCQ based exam is to study alone. Studying in a group of like-minded students can be very helpful.
• Go through the entire course of study. Do Not leave anything on choice.
• Even if you can not study everything multiple times, you must go through it at least once and discuss with friends. You will surely recall it, if you see it in exams.
• Instead of studying hard, you must Study Smart for an MCQ based exam.

If you are preparing for an MCQ-based exam then firstly you must know "What are MCQs and how are they prepared?". Then you must also read the "Best Method for Preparing for MCQs" and lastly you must read the  "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-1" and "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-2" !

What are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)?

What are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)?

How are MCQs Prepared?
The typical Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) is made up of a 'stem' or statement followed by several (often four or five) related completion items or options. The statements following the stem can be all true, all false, or a combination of true and false.


Distractors in MCQs.   The incorrect answers are called 'distractors' - they are meant to distract you from the correct answers, and for this reason, the distractors will be close enough to the correct answers to be plausible.


The Stem of the MCQ.   The stem should be read in turn with each of the completion statements. Each statement is independent, and there will be no fixed pattern to the number of true or false answers.

Most Common Format of MCQs.   The most common format currently used for MCQ exams is the extended matching item (EMI), or extended matching question (EMQ). An EMI question is similar to an MCQ in that you still have a stem and a range of options to choose from; however, EMI questions are thought to be a better tool for getting students to apply knowledge, as although more than one of the options might be correct, it's the best answer that's required.

After having the basic knowledge about the MCQ construction, you must go through the "Best Method for Preparing for MCQs", "Top 5 Mistakes Made by Students while Preparing for MCQs" so that you can avoid falling in those pit-falls; and above all you must read the "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-1" and "Top Tips for Appearing in MCQs Part-2".