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.
These questions have been written by Bitesize consultants as suggestions to the types of questions that may appear in an exam paper.
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Sample question 1 - Foundation
Question
What is the relative formula mass of potassium sulfate, K2SO4?
Relative atomic masses (Ar): potassium = 39, sulfur = 32, oxygen = 16
Tick one box. [1 mark]
| A | 87 | |
| B | 126 | |
| C | 174 | |
| D | 270 |
| A |
|---|
| 87 |
| B |
|---|
| 126 |
| C |
|---|
| 174 |
| D |
|---|
| 270 |
| A | 87 | |
| B | 126 | |
| C | 174 | ✔ |
| D | 270 |
| A |
|---|
| 87 |
| B |
|---|
| 126 |
| C |
|---|
| 174 |
| ✔ |
| D |
|---|
| 270 |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
A solution of sugar has a concentration of 3 g/dm3.
What is the mass of sugar in 0.5 dm3 of solution?
Tick one box. [1 mark]
| A | 6.5 g | |
| B | 4.5 g | |
| C | 3.0 g | |
| D | 1.5 g |
| A |
|---|
| 6.5 g |
| B |
|---|
| 4.5 g |
| C |
|---|
| 3.0 g |
| D |
|---|
| 1.5 g |
| A | 6.5 g | |
| B | 4.5 g | |
| C | 3.0 g | |
| D | 1.5 g | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| 6.5 g |
| B |
|---|
| 4.5 g |
| C |
|---|
| 3.0 g |
| D |
|---|
| 1.5 g |
| ✔ |
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
Sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen to produce sulfur trioxide:
2SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2SO3(g)
What mass of oxygen, in grams, would react completely with 1.28 g of sulfur dioxide?
Relative atomic masses (Ar): sulfur = 32, oxygen = 16
Tick one box. [1 mark]
| A | 0.32 g | |
| B | 0.64 g | |
| C | 3.20 g | |
| D | 6.40 g |
| A |
|---|
| 0.32 g |
| B |
|---|
| 0.64 g |
| C |
|---|
| 3.20 g |
| D |
|---|
| 6.40 g |
| A | 0.32 g | ✔ |
| B | 0.64 g | |
| C | 3.20 g | |
| D | 6.40 g |
| A |
|---|
| 0.32 g |
| ✔ |
| B |
|---|
| 0.64 g |
| C |
|---|
| 3.20 g |
| D |
|---|
| 6.40 g |
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
A student made zinc sulfate in this reaction:
ZnO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
He started with 4.05 g of zinc oxide.
What is the theoretical mass of zinc sulfate?
Relative atomic masses (Ar): zinc = 65, oxygen = 16, sulfur = 32. [1 mark]
| A | 4.05 g | |
| B | 6.15 g | |
| C | 8.05 g | |
| D | 8.10 g |
| A |
|---|
| 4.05 g |
| B |
|---|
| 6.15 g |
| C |
|---|
| 8.05 g |
| D |
|---|
| 8.10 g |
| A | 4.05 g | |
| B | 6.15 g | |
| C | 8.05 g | ✔ |
| D | 8.10 g |
| A |
|---|
| 4.05 g |
| B |
|---|
| 6.15 g |
| C |
|---|
| 8.05 g |
| ✔ |
| D |
|---|
| 8.10 g |
