Types of Questions

Matching

Matching questions ask you to connect related ideas. For instance, you might match a term with its definition. When you complete a matching activity each item typically has only one correct match. Match the easy ones first. This way you’ve already gone through a process of elimination for the items that are more difficult.

Multiple-choice

Multiple choice questions ask you to select the answer(s) that correctly apply to a question stem. There are a few things to pay close attention to with multiple choice:

• Are you instructed to choose one of the provided options, or to select all that apply? If you must select all that apply, there will be more than one correct answer in the options provided.
• Are you instructed to choose the best answer? Sometimes more than one answer could be correct, but you have to choose the one that answers the question better than all the rest.
• Does the question include the word “not”? Sometimes you might be asked to identify which of the answer choices does not apply to the question, instead of choosing the answer that does.

As a general strategy for multiple choice, read the question carefully. It may help to read it twice. Look at the provided answers and see if you can eliminate any of them right away because you know they are incorrect. Then look at your remaining options and make your selection.

True-False

True or false questions ask you to evaluate a statement to determine whether it is accurate (true) or inaccurate (false). Keep in mind that for a statement to be “true,” every part must be true. Just one inaccurate component will make the entire statement false.

Also, look for qualifiers. Qualifiers are words like, “always,” “sometimes,” or “never.” They are keywords that can give you clues to the correct answer. For example, imagine you have to determine if the following statement is true or false: “Children always say mama as their first word.” The word always is a good clue that this statement is false. While it is common for mama to be a child’s first word, that is not always the case.

Learning Lab

Try at least 2 of the relaxation techniques listed below. Which one works best for you? Do you have another way to release stress that you could use to lessen test anxiety?

• Engage in deep breathing for 2-5 minutes. Close your eyes and concentrate on the air going in and out of your lungs. Take long, deep breaths, fill your lungs and abdomen, hold your breath, and then exhale.
• Tense and relax different muscle groups. For example, if your shoulders are tense pull them back and hold them for a few seconds, then relax. This will help you be aware of the relaxation of muscles and help you to relax more.
• Engage in guided imagery for a few minutes. Pick a scene that you find peaceful, beautiful, and natural. Think about what you see, what you hear, what you feel, and what you smell while in this scene.
• Try to describe the anxiety. Focus your attention on your anxiety and think about the feelings it causes: How large is it? Where is it located in your body? What is its color, its shape, and its texture? If you can completely experience a physical sensation it will often disappear.
• Engage in positive self-talk. This involves: (a) thinking about rational responses to counter negative thoughts (e.g. instead of saying, “I’m going to fail this test,” say, “I have the ability to do this, I just need to get some help”), (b) thoughts that help you cope with stress (e.g. “A little anxiety is helpful and I will just try my best”), and (c) thoughts that keep you on task (e.g. “I can write this paper if I just break it into smaller steps”)

Citations

• Notre Dame University Tutoring Center (n.d.). Test anxiety. [PDF]
• Shier, M. (2020). 6.1 Test-taking. In Student Success: An invaluable resource for college and university students.  BCcampus Open Education. [Book chapter]