MCQ Test Taking Playbook

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the MCQ Test Taking Playbook notes.

Test duration

1 hour

Total questions

45 questions

Passages in the test

8–9 passages

Reading comprehension emphasis

Accounts for 55% of the test; focuses on rhetorical analysis

Writing component

Accounts for 45% of the test; includes author’s choices, grammar and usage, and style

Elimination strategy

Discard obviously wrong options to improve odds on a guess

Guess log

Note questions you guessed on to revisit if time permits

Pacing plan

1 hour for 45 questions; aim to be on question 23 by the 30-minute mark

Revisit strategy

If extra time exists, return to difficult questions; if you still don’t know, keep your original guess

Final-minute caution

Don’t nap or relax in the last minutes; fixing few questions can raise your score

Laser focus

Maintain intense concentration and avoid mind drifting

Mind drifting remedy

If focus wanes, reread passages quickly to regain understanding

Answer anticipation

Try to predict the correct answer before looking at the four options

Healthy test-taking routine

Treat your body like an athlete: get regular sleep and eat well

Athlete mindset

Approach the test like a sport: prioritize sleep and nutrition to perform at peak levels