With EM resident In Training Examination approaching, I wanted to do a post on test taking strategies. There are different techniques that can be employed while taking a test to help improve your odds of picking the right answer in a multiple choice test. As always, if you know the right answer, pick that!
General advice - it is often recommended to read the question first, and then read the stem to key in what the question is actually asking about.
Error Avoidance Strategies
1. Read the question carefully; it may include a negative statement in it. "Which of the following is *not* a risk factor for xyz..."
2. If a question is asking for a fact on something you don't know, don't waste time on the question. Put down an answer and move on.
Deductive Reasoning Strategy
1. Eliminate options you know are incorrect
2. Eliminate options that are logically inconsistent with stems.
Cue-using Strategies
1. Longest option tends to be right.
2. Most specific option tends to be right.
This is because test instructors frequently put the most information in the correct option.
3. Absolutes in answers are usually incorrect (always, must, never, etc)
Guessing Strategy
1. If you must resort to guessing, avoid answers you have never heard of.
2. The correct option tends to be placed in the middle (B or C)
3. When options are numerical, the middle value tends to be the correct answer.