Passing the Bar
Professor Vernellia Randall

Analyzing Multiple Choice Questions

2003 Sample Study Schedule: Updated Weekly
Home General Advice Essay Exams Multiple Choice Performance Other

 

The entire section is based on Michael Josepheson, Evaluation and Grading in Law School, AALS Section on Teaching (1984).

 
Analyzing the facts of the questions
bulletRead carefully: Read the stem first.
bulletDon't Assume Facts
bulletChose the simple interpretation; Don't make them more complex, than they really are.
bulletTrigger factors to watch for in reading MC Questions
bulletStatutes
bulletconflicting common law rules, and no one majority
bulletsee if you will ignore instinct
bulletread the statute carefully and apply it mechanically
bulletPay special attention to seemingly meaningless details about people.

 

Handling the specific inquiry in each question
bulletReword the inquiry
bulletWhat is the most likely outcome?
bulletWhat will be the result and why?
bulletWhich claim is most likely to succeed?
bulletWhich is the only claim that can succeed on these facts--and why?
bulletWhat is defendant's best defense?
bulletWhy won't the defendant be guilty on these facts?
bulletIf party X loses, the most likely basis for the judgment is that . . .
bulletParty X lost because ...

 

Summon the applicable test immediately before reading the options
bulletHelps prevent you from being seduced into choosing a distracter

 

 
 
 

 

Same Level:
[ Overview of Multiple Choice Questions ] [ Recognizing Distracters and Foils ] [ Play the Right Role! ] [ Strategies and Tactics ] [ Analyzing  Multiple Choice Questions ] [ Analyzing Responses ] [ How Options Can Be Wrong ] [ How to Guess Intelligently ] [ Taking the Multple Choice Test ] [ Varieties in the Form of the Question ] [ Varieties in the Nature of the Question ]
Child Level
Parent Level:
[ How to Take Multiple Choice ] [ Right Result - Right Reason ] [ Monitoring MBE Exam Score ] [ MBE Practice Sheet ]


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Last Updated:
Saturday, May 17, 2003

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