Multiple choice questions
Multiple choice questions appear throughout both exam papers, and at both foundation tier and higher tier. Multiple choice questions are usually asked as questions, often starting with 'what is...' or 'why...'.
You have three or four options to choose from in a multiple choice question. You must choose the number of options asked for in the question by placing ticks in boxes. Most multiple choice questions require just one tick, but a few ask for two ticks. You will not get a mark if you leave all the boxes blank, or if you put a tick in more than the required number of boxes.
Multiple choice questions often have two answers that could, at first glance, be correct. It is important to check all the answers before deciding which box to tick. It is also important to check that your chosen statement answers the question - some questions might include an option that is a correct statement, but that does not answer the question.
Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Name two methods of treating water from rivers, lakes or the sea to produce drinking water. Tick two boxes.
| A | Anaerobic digestion | |
| B | Cracking | |
| C | Desalination | |
| D | Electrolysis | |
| E | Sterilising |
| A |
|---|
| Anaerobic digestion |
| B |
|---|
| Cracking |
| C |
|---|
| Desalination |
| D |
|---|
| Electrolysis |
| E |
|---|
| Sterilising |
[2 marks]
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
| A | Anaerobic digestion | |
| B | Cracking | |
| C | Desalination | ✔ |
| D | Electrolysis | |
| E | Sterilising | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| Anaerobic digestion |
| B |
|---|
| Cracking |
| C |
|---|
| Desalination |
| ✔ |
| D |
|---|
| Electrolysis |
| E |
|---|
| Sterilising |
| ✔ |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Which resources are renewable?
Tick two boxes.
| A | Wood | |
| B | Crude oil | |
| C | Iron ore | |
| D | Methane made from animal waste |
| A |
|---|
| Wood |
| B |
|---|
| Crude oil |
| C |
|---|
| Iron ore |
| D |
|---|
| Methane made from animal waste |
[2 mark]
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of question that may appear in an exam paper.
| A | Wood | ✔ |
| B | Crude oil | |
| C | Iron ore | |
| D | Methane made from animal waste | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| Wood |
| ✔ |
| B |
|---|
| Crude oil |
| C |
|---|
| Iron ore |
| D |
|---|
| Methane made from animal waste |
| ✔ |
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
The water in a storage tank is not potable. What does potable mean?
| A | Contains dissolved substances | |
| B | Pure | |
| C | Safe to drink | |
| D | Tastes nice |
| A |
|---|
| Contains dissolved substances |
| B |
|---|
| Pure |
| C |
|---|
| Safe to drink |
| D |
|---|
| Tastes nice |
[1 mark]
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
| A | Contains dissolved substances | |
| B | Pure | |
| C | Safe to drink | ✔ |
| D | Tastes nice |
| A |
|---|
| Contains dissolved substances |
| B |
|---|
| Pure |
| C |
|---|
| Safe to drink |
| ✔ |
| D |
|---|
| Tastes nice |
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Why should the water in the tank be filtered to make it potable?
| A | To kill microbes | |
| B | To remove dissolved gases | |
| C | To remove dissolved solids | |
| D | To remove undissolved solids |
| A |
|---|
| To kill microbes |
| B |
|---|
| To remove dissolved gases |
| C |
|---|
| To remove dissolved solids |
| D |
|---|
| To remove undissolved solids |
[1 mark]
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
| A | To kill microbes | |
| B | To remove dissolved gases | |
| C | To remove dissolved solids | |
| D | To remove undissolved solids | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| To kill microbes |
| B |
|---|
| To remove dissolved gases |
| C |
|---|
| To remove dissolved solids |
| D |
|---|
| To remove undissolved solids |
| ✔ |