SOLVING THE MCQs

WHAT IS AN MCQ?

An MCQ or a Multiple Choice Question is a kind of question that asks for one option out of two, three or four available options, as the answer to the question. Only one option is a correct option.

Fullforms.com defines MCQ as -

Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) is a form of assessment in which the candidates are asked to select the best possible answer out of the choices from a list of several possible answers, of which only one is correct.

WHY DO MCQs SEEM TOUGH?

MCQs seem tough because of a variety of options available to choose. The MCQs have only one correct answer and others are there just to "distract" the candidate, and that's why (s)he gets confused.

WHY ARE MCQs PREFERRED?

MCQs is a time-saver question as you don't have to pen down long lines of text in your answer book, besides the marking of MCQs is quite easy. Moreover, only this type of question could be taken to the digital world for instant marking.

SOLVING THEM - LET'S BREAK THE ICE

There are a variety of methods and steps employed to crack MCQs. I've named them myself, they're not defined.

READ IT!

Read the question with confidence and comfort. Don't hurry and don't be overconfident. Read the question straight into your mind.

THINK!

Think deeply. Recall the answer. If you are confident with your answer, then go with it. THAT'S THE END

If you're not really confident with your answer, then move to the next step.

ELIMINATION - CROSS THE ODD ONE OUT

The important step. Read the options available.

Check whether the option is really related to the question. If not, cross it out.
If the option has a significance with the question, keep it.

Now, when you are left with the options which are related to the question, move forward.

FURTHER ELIMINATION

Think about the remaining options. Recall their background. See whether the question's answer can be that very option. If you are weak at school, I think MCQs are very bad for you, but still, you can crack them.

Try to see the meaning of the options; consult your thumb rules, tit-bits etc. If you are able to eliminate them, you will surely have only one option in hand and you have to go with that.
If you are still stuck, leave the question to be consulted later.

LATER CONSULTATION

Now as you come round, you see that question incomplete. Sometimes, the questions that lie before (or after it) might provide you a clue. if you find such a clue, think again and return to elimination. The final option is your answer.

IF YOU'RE STUCK, YOU'RE GONE

MCQs aren't that easy. If you get stuck, you have two options:

If there is negative marking, leave it blank.
If there is no negative marking, you could enter an answer.

PREPARING FOR MCQ BASED TESTS

If you're preparing for an MCQ based test, keep some things in mind.

The options in the MCQ based test consist of a correct option and any other option(s). It(they) might or might not be related to the question. Keep some tit-bits and thumb rules.
Date-based MCQs are very tricky. You must remember them in a comfortable and easy-to-recall way.
Keep the spellings in mind. It depends if the medium is in British English, or in American English.

That's all in this article.

Regards,

Team Xenon RC