Multiple Choice Question (MCQ)Tips

Many of the exams in medicine will have a MCQ section. Review these tips to make sure you’ve learned how to properly analyze this format. 

• Cover the answer options, try to answer the question in your head.
• Note answers that contain absolutes (“always” or “never” statements) as they may be eliminated quickly
• Read all the options before choosing your answer.
• If you know 2 answers to be correct in an “all of the above” question, choose that answer. Alternatively, if you know that one answer is correct, don’t choose “none of the above”
• If 2 answers are direct opposites of each other, likely one of them is correct.
• If the multiple choice exam has “K-type” format (i.e. combination of correct answers stating 1& 2 are correct, 1, 2 &3 are correct etc). Answer each option as an individual True or False statement, then see if the combination fit the answer options given
• A positive answer is more likely to be true than a negative one.
• The correct answer may contain the most information.

Check before the exam as to whether there is a penalty for guessing or not (most Canadian exams do not penalize, so guess away!).