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.
This page contains AQA material which is reproduced by permission of AQA.
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Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
Force is a vector quantity.
Which statement is correct about a vector quantity? [1 mark]
Tick one box.
| Has direction only | |
| Has direction and magnitude | |
| Has magnitude only | |
| Has neither magnitude nor direction |
| Has direction only |
| Has direction and magnitude |
| Has magnitude only |
| Has neither magnitude nor direction |
| Has direction only | |
| Has direction and magnitude | ✔ |
| Has magnitude only | |
| Has neither magnitude nor direction |
| Has direction only |
| Has direction and magnitude |
| ✔ |
| Has magnitude only |
| Has neither magnitude nor direction |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The Earth has a magnetic field.
What causes the Earth's magnetic field? [1 mark]
Tick one box.
| The movement of the liquid iron in the Earth's outer core | |
| The gravitational field of the Earth | |
| The permanent magnet in the Earth's core |
| The movement of the liquid iron in the Earth's outer core |
| The gravitational field of the Earth |
| The permanent magnet in the Earth's core |
| The movement of the liquid iron in the Earth's outer core | ✔ |
| The gravitational field of the Earth | |
| The permanent magnet in the Earth's core |
| The movement of the liquid iron in the Earth's outer core |
| ✔ |
| The gravitational field of the Earth |
| The permanent magnet in the Earth's core |
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
A student investigates a potassium salt, X.
She finds that salt X:
- has a high melting point
- does not conduct electricity when it is solid
- dissolves in water and the solution does conduct electricity
What type of bonding is in salt X? [1 mark]
Tick one box.
| Covalent | |
| Giant molecular | |
| Ionic | |
| Metallic |
| Covalent |
| Giant molecular |
| Ionic |
| Metallic |
| Covalent | |
| Giant molecular | |
| Ionic | ✔ |
| Metallic |
| Covalent |
| Giant molecular |
| Ionic |
| ✔ |
| Metallic |
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
The image shows the horizontal forces acting on a moving bicycle and cyclist.
What causes force A? [1 mark]
Tick one box.
| Friction | |
| Gravity | |
| Weight |
| Friction |
| Gravity |
| Weight |
| Friction | ✔ |
| Gravity | |
| Weight |
| Friction |
| ✔ |
| Gravity |
| Weight |
