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.
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Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
The diagram shows the reaction profile of an exothermic reaction.
What does the energy value of 1370 kJ represent?
[1 mark]
| A | Activation energy | |
| B | Products energy | |
| C | Reactants energy | |
| D | Released energy |
| A |
|---|
| Activation energy |
| B |
|---|
| Products energy |
| C |
|---|
| Reactants energy |
| D |
|---|
| Released energy |
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
| A | Activation energy | ✔ |
| B | Products energy | |
| C | Reactants energy | |
| D | Released energy |
| A |
|---|
| Activation energy |
| ✔ |
| B |
|---|
| Products energy |
| C |
|---|
| Reactants energy |
| D |
|---|
| Released energy |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
Magnesium needs to be heated before it reacts with oxygen in the air. What conclusion can you draw from this?
[1 mark]
| A | The reaction is reversible | |
| B | The reaction has a high activation energy | |
| C | The reaction is exothermic | |
| D | Magnesium has a high melting point |
| A |
|---|
| The reaction is reversible |
| B |
|---|
| The reaction has a high activation energy |
| C |
|---|
| The reaction is exothermic |
| D |
|---|
| Magnesium has a high melting point |
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
| A | The reaction is reversible | |
| B | The reaction has a high activation energy | ✔ |
| C | The reaction is exothermic | |
| D | Magnesium has a high melting point |
| A |
|---|
| The reaction is reversible |
| B |
|---|
| The reaction has a high activation energy |
| ✔ |
| C |
|---|
| The reaction is exothermic |
| D |
|---|
| Magnesium has a high melting point |
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Which of the following statements correctly explains why a reaction is endothermic?
[1 mark]
| A | More energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds | |
| B | More energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds | |
| C | Less energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds | |
| D | Less energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds |
| A |
|---|
| More energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds |
| B |
|---|
| More energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds |
| C |
|---|
| Less energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds |
| D |
|---|
| Less energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds |
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 | More energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds | |
| B | More energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds | ✔ |
| C | Less energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds | |
| D | Less energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds |
| A |
|---|
| More energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds |
| B |
|---|
| More energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds |
| ✔ |
| C |
|---|
| Less energy is absorbed when breaking reactant bonds than is released when making product bonds |
| D |
|---|
| Less energy is released when breaking reactant bonds than is absorbed when making product bonds |
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
Which of the following reactions releases most energy to the surroundings?
[1 mark]
| A | Reaction energy change = -456 kJ/mol | |
| B | Reaction energy change = +547 kJ/mol | |
| C | Reaction energy change = -38 kJ/mol | |
| D | Reaction energy change = +1456 kJ/mol |
| A |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = -456 kJ/mol |
| B |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = +547 kJ/mol |
| C |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = -38 kJ/mol |
| D |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = +1456 kJ/mol |
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 | Reaction energy change = -456 kJ/mol | ✔ |
| B | Reaction energy change = +547 kJ/mol | |
| C | Reaction energy change = -38 kJ/mol | |
| D | Reaction energy change = +1456 kJ/mol |
| A |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = -456 kJ/mol |
| ✔ |
| B |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = +547 kJ/mol |
| C |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = -38 kJ/mol |
| D |
|---|
| Reaction energy change = +1456 kJ/mol |
