How to Study for Multiple Choice Exams

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Multiple-choice exams are designed to test your memory and recall. You’ll have to select the right answer from a choice of 3 to 5 options, so it can be tricky. The most important tool to ace the test is to be able to recognize the right answer either from your memory or by eliminating the wrong answers. You'll need to adjust the focus of your studying to be on memorizing as much information and details as you can. If you study wisely, the exam should be a breeze!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Memorizing Key Information

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  1. Refresh the information in your head as many times as you can. You can read aloud to yourself or rewrite your notes in your own words. Go slow and don’t rush through it—skimming will only waste precious study time. [1]
    • If you prefer to rewrite your notes, jot them down in a different format—outlines, charts, and idea-maps will help you categorize information and draw valuable links between bits of material.
  2. Take the first letters of key terms and organize them into a word or something you can remember. Try to make the acronym something related to the topic or something you can picture in your mind to kickstart your memory.
    • For example, you might remember the 3 branches of government by the acronym "LEJ" (legislative, executive, judicial) and recall the acronym by picturing a government executive carrying a ledger (as it sounds similar to the acronym).
    • In math, you could use the acronym PEMDAS (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) to remember the order of operations when you're solving an equation. [2]
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  3. Look at the words themselves to give you a clue on how to remember their meanings. You can use a prefix or suffix of the word (the beginning or end) to jog your memory or a sequence of letters inside the word. [3]
    • For example, you might remember the difference between latitude and longitude by taking the first 3 letters of latitude (“LAT”) and associating that with the word “flat” (latitudinal lines lay flat on a map).
  4. Write a word or phrase on the blank side of a notecard and write any definitions, important facts, or associated ideas on the back. Shuffle the cards each time you study to give yourself a challenge. [4]
    • For example, you might write "Cold War" on one side and "Stalin, 1947-1991, arms race, red scare" on the back.
    • Flashcards are an excellent tool to practice your recall abilities, which is a major skill when it comes to taking a multiple-choice test.
    • You could also make a "cheat sheet" with the important facts, formulas, and concepts from your notes. Study these, paying special attention to the relationships between the concepts. Then, go back over your notes to figure out how more specific details fit into the bigger picture. [5]
  5. Create a simple rhyming phrase that contains any key information, including special dates, facts, and names (if applicable). Keep it short and simple so you can repeat it in your head quickly and as often as you like. Don’t stress about making a perfect rhyme—just make it close enough to where the sound of the words can jog your memory. [6]
    • For instance:"In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue" or "'59 was the date Alaska and Hawaii became new states."
  6. Take a simple tune that doesn't require much thought to remember (like the "Hot Crossed Buns" song or "Mary Had a Little Lamb") and replace the words with some key dates, names, or ideas you're trying to memorize. The catchier it is, the better! [7]
    • For example, you might loosely put the words "Seneca Falls, Stanton and Mott, 1848, they wanted suffrage for all" to the tune of "Hot Crossed Buns.”
    • Don't worry about making the syllables match up to the original tunes, just focus on fitting key information into the jingle.
  7. Go through your notes, the textbook, or handouts and make a list of any keywords that you're iffy about. Write a short definition next to each one in your own words so you can get a better grasp on their meaning. [8]
    • Some teachers like to throw curveballs on exams, so be prepared to impress them by knowing even the most obscure terms or ideas!
  8. Create your own questions about the material, focusing on key dates, names, places, and ideas. Once you have 10 to 20 questions, set it aside and test yourself later on to see what you remember and what you need to focus more on. It can be hard to come up with questions, so base them around the “who, what, when, where, and why” of the material. [9]
    • Read over your study materials carefully, and try to think of questions the teacher might ask based on your notes. [10]
    • Consider asking a friend to make their own sample test so you can trade.
    • You can also look up short online quizzes related to the material.
    • A good example question might be: What is the significance of December 7, 1941?
      a) It was the day the US fired the first shot in their involvement of WWII.
      b) It was the day the Empire of Japan dropped bombs on Pearl Harbor, prompting the United States to join the Allies.
      c) It was the day FDR gave his most famous “Infamy” speech.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 354 wikiHow readers, and 67% of them agreed that the best way to prepare for a test is to take practice tests . [Take Poll]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Creating Good Study Habits

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  1. [11] Start studying at least a few days to a week before the exam so the information has time to percolate in your mind. Gauge how early you should start based on how much information is on the test. [12]
    • For instance, start studying 2 weeks before final exams that cover an entire semester of material.
    • For midterms or quarter-exams, starting a few days to a week ahead of the test date should be enough time.
    • Getting a head start will also lower your stress levels and give you adequate time to rest your brain between study sessions.
  2. Set a timer for 30 minutes or 1 hour when you sit down and focus on nothing but studying during that time. Make a schedule that allows you to go outside, get some exercise, or turn your brain off for 15 to 30 minutes between study times. [13]
    • These gaps can reboot your energy, giving your eyes and your brain a much-deserved rest.
    • For instance, you might schedule the afternoon like this:
      3:00 - 4:00 PM Review and rewrite notes
      4:00 - 4:15 PM Brisk walk around the block
      4:15 - 4:45 PM Study with flashcards
      4:45 - 5:00 PM Snack break
      5:00 - 6:00 PM Take online practice test
  3. Put away your phone, turn off the TV, avoid places where others might distract you, and don't listen to music while you study. Save those activities for your scheduled break times. If you can’t avoid distractions, do your best to deal with them by wearing noise-cancellation headphones or moving your study area to a quieter place. [14]
    • However, it's okay if you focus better with background music or some noise going on—do what works best for you!
    • If you prefer to study in a public place but don’t want any friends distracting you, kindly let them know you’ll catch up with them on your next short break. You can also ask them to study with you—just don’t distract each other!
  4. Clutter affects your ability to focus, so make sure your study space is clean and organized. Keep all your supplies like pens, paper, textbooks, and handouts right where you need them so you don’t waste precious study time looking for things. However, don’t use cleaning as an excuse to procrastinate! [15]
    • If you need to study right away and have a disorderly room, go to a library, coffee shop, or somewhere else where you can be in a clean, comfortable environment.
  5. Avoid sitting down to study in a hard, uncomfortable chair with a super-straight back. You don’t want to be breaking your focus to reposition yourself every so often. Use pillows or ergonomic cushions to keep your body upright, aligned, and comfortable. [16]
    • However, too much comfort can make you feel sleepy, so stay away from a cushy armchair if you’re already feeling beat.
    • If your legs or butt is prone to falling asleep while you’re sitting, consider using a standing desk instead.
  6. Dedicate 1 day to studying course material from the textbook and another day to studying material from your lecture notes or other supplementary materials. Or, you can split it up by the particular topic within the subject. This will help you compartmentalize the information and keep your study sessions focused and manageable. [17]
    • If your teacher emphasized one source over another, study that one first so you have more time with it.
    • For instance, for a world history course, might study the main events of the Korean War one day and the main events of the Cold War the next.
    • As another example, if you’re studying a foreign language, you might study basic vocabulary during 1 session and conjugations during another.
  7. Once you have a good grasp on the material, keep studying! Test anxiety can make it hard to recall the information, so the more it's cemented in your brain, the better!
    • Once you’ve mastered some topics, feel free to speed-study those and focus on the ones you don’t feel as confident about.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do if I waited until the night before to study for my exam?
    Jake Adams
    Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist
    Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University.
    Jake Adams
    Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If you're staying up all night cramming, see if there's a possibility for a nap. Naps have the ability to put you into your REM sleep cycle, and studies have shown that just entering your REM sleep cycle is helpful for reintegrating memory. If that's possible, do that. If not, then find ways to take a break while studying. Leading up to the actual test, do your best to refresh your memory with your notes and study guides right up until test time. That way you can hopefully eliminate the memory loss you may have experienced due to lack of sleep.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How can I remember the key concepts for a multiple choice test?
    Ted Coopersmith, MBA
    Academic Tutor
    Ted Coopersmith is an Academic Tutor for Manhattan Elite Prep, a test prep and academic tutoring company based in New York City. In addition to general academic advising, Ted has expertise in preparing for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, and ASVAB tests. He also has over 30 years of financial controller advising and consulting experience. He holds a BA from the City University of New York (CUNY) and an MBA from Pace University.
    Ted Coopersmith, MBA
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    It can be very helpful to have a "cheat sheet" listing important words, concepts, phrases, and relationships from your study notes. Study the broad facts, formulas, and concepts as a priority, especially the relationships involved. Then, you can go back through your notes once or twice to recognize some of the ancillary concepts.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      • Consider taking your notes to the gym with you. Go over them while you walk on the treadmill or ride the stationary bike. [18]
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      • Make studying more fun by using your favorite colorful pens and stationery when you rewrite your notes or make flashcards.
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      • Get creative with how you study the information—this can be anything from writing a poem about it or making a short comic strip that encompasses key facts you need to know.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://guides.lib.uoguelph.ca/SucceedatExams/MultipleChoice
      2. ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/11/study-smart
      4. ↑ https://guides.centralpenn.edu/c.php?g=695569&p=4999857
      5. ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      6. ↑ https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13421-016-0609-8
      7. ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/memory-techniques/
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/E8Z6zvzGUy0?t=199
      9. ↑ https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/49750/a-better-way-to-study-through-self-testing-and-distributed-practice
      1. ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      2. ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      3. ↑ https://tdlc.ucsd.edu/tdlc2/news_scientist_Kang.php
      4. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/multiple-choice-exams/
      5. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/studying-101-study-smarter-not-harder/
      6. ↑ https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-case-for-finally-cleaning-your-desk
      7. ↑ https://www.wgu.edu/blog/improve-online-study-environment1712.html
      8. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/studying-101-study-smarter-not-harder/
      9. ↑ https://www.asirecreation.org/recreport/ask-trainer/63-ask-a-trainer-archive/211-importance-of-exercise-while-studying
      10. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140917-the-worst-way-to-learn
      11. ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.

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