Multiple Choice Conundrum

Would it not be a whole lot easier if the multiple choice examination was simply true or false.? Just think of all the techniques you could tell your child to employ.

The words examiners would need to use would have to change:

£5.00 is 10% of £50.00. True or False (Delete the wrong answer).

Sadly the 11+ children will need to recognise multiple choice questions with fine distinctions between correct and nearly-correct statements.

Find 10% of 50. ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 40 (Circle the correct answer.).

Now every child is different. You may care to discuss some of the following suggestions with your child. You will know which points you need to labour. Beware - there may be some points you should not even dream of putting into your child’s mind.

Ten points to 11+ Multiple Choice Questions

Read the question twice before looking at the possible answers.
Think about all the question - not just one or two words.
Look for key words like: `not’
Consider the difference between correct and nearly correct answers.
Remember that you have done selection tests to get used to thinking about different types of questions.
Read all the questions carefully.
When you have done all the easy questions - go back to the more difficult ones.
Guess the really hard questions.
Eliminate any answers that are obviously incorrect.
Remind yourself that you need to understand the text of the questions as well as the options

But why do you have to remind your child to beware?

Well there are multiple choice maths questions, multiple choice English questions as well as verbal and non verbal reasoning questions.

Be strong because sometimes as an adult you have not selected the right answer. Life has told you that. On other occasions you have not studied either the question or the answer carefully enough. If you are not infallible what chance do your offspring have?