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
Which metal is found in the Earth as the metal itself?
[1 mark]
| A | Calcium | |
| B | Gold | |
| C | Lithium | |
| D | Potassium |
| A |
|---|
| Calcium |
| B |
|---|
| Gold |
| C |
|---|
| Lithium |
| D |
|---|
| Potassium |
This question is AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
| A | Calcium | |
| B | Gold | ✔ |
| C | Lithium | |
| D | Potassium |
| A |
|---|
| Calcium |
| B |
|---|
| Gold |
| ✔ |
| C |
|---|
| Lithium |
| D |
|---|
| Potassium |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
What are the products of the reaction of zinc with hydrochloric acid?
[1 mark]
| A | Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen | |
| B | Zinc chloride and water | |
| C | Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen | |
| D | Zinc chloride and hydrogen |
| A |
|---|
| Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen |
| B |
|---|
| Zinc chloride and water |
| C |
|---|
| Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen |
| D |
|---|
| Zinc chloride and hydrogen |
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 | Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen | |
| B | Zinc chloride and water | |
| C | Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen | |
| D | Zinc chloride and hydrogen | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen |
| B |
|---|
| Zinc chloride and water |
| C |
|---|
| Zinc hydrochloride and hydrogen |
| D |
|---|
| Zinc chloride and hydrogen |
| ✔ |
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Which substance is oxidised in the reaction represented by the ionic equation below?
Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
[1 mark]
| A | Zinc because it loses electrons | |
| B | Copper because it gains electrons | |
| C | Zinc because it gains electrons | |
| D | Copper because it loses electrons |
| A |
|---|
| Zinc because it loses electrons |
| B |
|---|
| Copper because it gains electrons |
| C |
|---|
| Zinc because it gains electrons |
| D |
|---|
| Copper because it loses electrons |
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 | Zinc because it loses electrons | ✔ |
| B | Copper because it gains electrons | |
| C | Zinc because it gains electrons | |
| D | Copper because it loses electrons |
| A |
|---|
| Zinc because it loses electrons |
| ✔ |
| B |
|---|
| Copper because it gains electrons |
| C |
|---|
| Zinc because it gains electrons |
| D |
|---|
| Copper because it loses electrons |
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
A student places 25 cm3 of a solution of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, in a flask.
The concentration of sodium hydroxide is 0.5 mol/dm3.
What is the amount in moles of sodium hydroxide in the flask?
[1 mark]
| A | 12.5 | |
| B | 1.25 | |
| C | 0.125 | |
| D | 0.0125 |
| A |
|---|
| 12.5 |
| B |
|---|
| 1.25 |
| C |
|---|
| 0.125 |
| D |
|---|
| 0.0125 |
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 | 12.5 | |
| B | 1.25 | |
| C | 0.125 | |
| D | 0.0125 | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| 12.5 |
| B |
|---|
| 1.25 |
| C |
|---|
| 0.125 |
| D |
|---|
| 0.0125 |
| ✔ |