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Reading Multiple Choice Questions
Reading Skills
The Praxis test questions often present you with something to read (a case study, a chart
or graph) and ask you questions based on your reading.
Reading a multiple choice question is a different reading task. Because there are so few
words, each word is weighted very heavily. Not understanding the meaning of even one word can
skew your interpretation of the question and the way in which you will answer it.
Strong reading skills are required for the Praxis Exams. You must read carefully, but not
slowly. You need to efficiently process and use what you read to do well on the exams.
A multiple choice question consists of a stem (the actual question) and four or five
options. Carefully and thoroughly read the stem. You may need to reread a stem several times.
In addition, you may want to put the stem in your own words if it will help you. Ask
yourself "What is the question asking?"
After reading the stem try to anticipate or recall the correct answer. This may help you
avoid reading too much into the question.
Read through all the options. Eliminate those that are obviously wrong and then choose the
correct option. If the answer does not appear to be there at first, consider how the answer
might be paraphrased in one of the options. Sometimes you clarify your understanding of what
the question is asking you rephrase it or word it a little differently.
Reading Challenges of the Praxis Exams
 | The syntax (or wording) of multiple choice tests give some students problems. For
example:
| "Which of the following fails to take into account …"
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| Some students have insufficient reading skill in the context of testing
| Read literally rather than critically |
| Restrictive language (the use of least, except, not) is overlooked or is confusing to
the student.
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| In some question the actual question follows 2 or 3 other sentences (prompt).
| Test items where the question follows the prompt is more difficult for some students. |
| This is easily cured by reversing the order of the question. Read the question
sentence first, then the remaining sentences of the prompt.
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| Some students are intimated by a long stems.
| Some students automatically move to the next question, |
| Others panic or become confused because they are intimated by the length of the
question
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| Students with limited vocabulary are presented with additional challenges
| Don’t be put off by words you don’t understand |
| It might be easy to be upset by words you don't know, but read carefully to understand
the question and look for an answer that fits |
| Sound out unfamiliar words by breaking them into familiar parts with meanings you know |
| The text surrounding the unfamiliar word may help you understand its meaning |
| Vocabulary terms: practice, reinforcement, transfer, mastery, understanding,
motivation, cognitive, abstract, asserted, feedback, intrinsic, extrinsic, augmented,
overlearning, etc. |
| More vocabulary terms: convergent, divergent, literal, analytical, critical, creative,
knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, interpretation,
memory, and translation |
| Some questions have two very similar choices that seem correct, one that is definitely
wrong, and one that seems plausible. Your goal is to eliminate as many choices as
possible. A good vocabulary will aid you in this.
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| Some students have difficulty with grammatically correct questions
| They find the questions hard to read |
| They have to wade through correctness |
| To these students the language seems awkward and archaic
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| Don’t make the questions more difficult than they are
| Don’t read for "hidden meanings" or "tricks." |
| There are no "trick questions" on Praxis exams. |
| They are intended to be serious, straightforward tests of subject knowledge.
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| The important thing is figuring out what the question is asking. Figuring out the answer
is the second step |
ETS provides much of this information in their publication
General Information and Study Tips for Praxis II: Subject Assessments (1999). The
information is presented here with their permission.
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