Multiple Choice Test Taking Strategies: How To Ace A Multiple-Choice Test

Ben Franklin said, "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Whether you're pursuing an on-campus or an online degree program, you might add one more item to the list.
Tests.
True/false. Fill in the blank. Short answers. Essays. Each type of test requires a different approach or technique.
Saint Leo associate professor of accounting, Dr. Passard Dean, clearly remembers his first college multiple-choice exam for one reason: he failed it.
Growing up in Jamaica, where he earned the first of his six degrees, Dr. Dean was accustomed to writing essays and solving problems for final exams. The first multiple-choice exam he ever took was when he was 24. He had moved with his family to New York, and he was working on his degree in accounting and economics.
"Multiple-choice exams required an entirely different thought process than I was used to with essays," said Dr. Dean. "So I started learning about multiple-choice tests and accumulating ideas on how to approach them to help myself become a better multiple-choice test taker."
In later years as a college professor, Dr. Dean found that international students, in particular, experienced a similar challenge with multiple-choice exams. "Their struggle resonated with me, so I started sharing my tips."
Today, he shares his multiple choice test taking strategies with all of his students. He tells them there's no secret to success when it comes to multiple-choice exams. "It's all about technique. Learn the methodology – apply the technique – and you will increase your potential for success."
Dr. Dean's Multiple Choice Test Taking Strategies
Here is Dr. Dean's multiple-choice question answering technique for how to pass a multiple choice test.
Regardless of what type of test you will be taking or in what subject, by far, the best test preparation advice is to stay on top of your studies and assignments from day one of a new term. Learning the material as you go, asking questions, and reviewing regularly throughout the course will help you avoid panic and cramming the night before the final exam.
That said, it's the night before your exam, and you've done all you can to prepare. Now what?
Remember the basics.
Don't stay up all night studying. Get a reasonable amount of sleep. Get up on time, even if you have to set two alarms to do so.
Eat a healthy breakfast, which is crucial to thinking clearly and staying focused. Include whole grains to help you stay full, protein to boost your energy, and water to hydrate your brain, increase your concentration, and prevent fatigue.
Breathe, stay positive and remember the strategies for how to pass a multiple choice test.
What test-taking strategies work for you?
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