Multiple Choice Tricks That Actually Work (Tested Over 3 Years of Exams)

I've been taking standardized tests and multiple choice exams since middle school. Over three years of college, I've developed a set of strategies that genuinely improve my scores — not by guessing better, but by using the structure of multiple choice questions more effectively.

Here's what actually works.

Strategy 1: Answer Before You Look

Before reading the answer choices, try to answer the question in your own words. Then look at the choices and find the one that matches your answer. This prevents the answer choices from influencing your thinking before you've had a chance to reason through the question independently.

This works especially well for factual recall questions. If you know the answer, you'll find it quickly. If you don't know the answer, you can then use the choices to help you reason.

Strategy 2: Eliminate First, Choose Second

On hard questions, start by eliminating the choices you know are wrong. Even if you can only eliminate one or two, you've improved your odds significantly. The goal is to get to a 50/50 choice between two plausible answers, then reason carefully between those two.

Strategy 3: Watch for Absolute Language

Choices that use absolute language — "always," "never," "all," "none" — are usually wrong. Real-world phenomena rarely work in absolutes. Choices with qualified language — "usually," "often," "in most cases" — are more likely to be correct.

This isn't a rule, but it's a useful heuristic that has served me well.

Strategy 4: The "Which Is Most Likely" Mindset

Many multiple choice questions are asking which answer is most likely correct, not which answer is definitely correct. When two answers both seem plausible, ask yourself which one the professor or test-maker would consider the best answer given the course content. This is a different question than "which is technically true."

Strategy 5: Don't Change Your First Answer (Usually)

Research consistently shows that your first instinct on multiple choice questions is more often correct than your second guess. Change your answer only if you have a specific, concrete reason — not just a vague feeling of doubt.

Strategy 6: Flag and Move On

If you're stuck on a question, flag it and move on. Don't spend 5 minutes on one question when you could answer three others in that time. Come back to flagged questions at the end with fresh eyes.

The Honest Caveat

These strategies help, but they're not a substitute for knowing the material. The best multiple choice strategy is to study effectively so you actually know the answers.

Advanced Multiple Choice Tactics

Beyond the basics, here are some more specific tactics I've developed:

For science and math questions: If the question gives you numbers, try plugging the answer choices back into the problem. Sometimes it's faster to test the answers than to solve from scratch.

For reading comprehension questions: Always go back to the passage. Don't answer from memory. The answer is in the text, and your memory of what you read is often slightly wrong.

For "except" and "not" questions: These are easy to misread. Circle the word "except" or "not" before you start reading the choices. Then evaluate each choice as if it were a true/false question.

For "best" and "most" questions: These usually have multiple technically correct answers, but one is more complete or more directly relevant than the others. Think about what the course emphasized.

For questions you've never seen before: If a question covers something you don't recognize, look for the answer that is most consistent with the general principles of the course. Test-makers rarely test obscure edge cases on high-stakes exams.

How to Review Wrong Answers

The most valuable part of practice exams is reviewing the questions you got wrong. Here's my process:

1. Categorize the error. Did you get it wrong because you didn't know the material, because you misread the question, or because you fell for a trap?
2. Understand the correct answer. Don't just note what the right answer is — understand why it's right.
3. Understand why your answer was wrong. What reasoning led you to the wrong choice?
4. Write it down. Keep a "wrong answers" notebook. Reviewing this notebook before an exam is one of the highest-value activities you can do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I always go with my first instinct on multiple choice?

Generally yes, but with nuance. Research shows first instincts are more often correct, but this doesn't mean never change your answer. Change it if you have a specific, concrete reason (you remembered something new, you re-read the question and realized you misunderstood it). Don't change it based on vague doubt.

Q: How do I deal with questions where two answers both seem right?

First, re-read the question carefully — you may have missed a qualifier. Then ask: which answer is more directly responsive to exactly what was asked? Which answer is more consistent with what the course emphasized? If you're still stuck, go with the more specific answer over the more general one.

Q: Is it worth guessing on questions I don't know?

On most modern exams, yes — there's no penalty for wrong answers, so leaving a question blank is always worse than guessing. Even if you can't eliminate any choices, a random guess gives you a 25% chance of being right.

Q: How much does test-taking strategy actually matter vs. knowing the material?

For most students, knowing the material matters much more. Strategy helps at the margins — maybe 5–10% of your score. If you're scoring 60% on practice exams, better strategy won't get you to 85%; better preparation will. Focus on the material first, strategy second.