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
What are the elements in hydrocarbons? [1 mark]
Tick one box.
| Carbon and hydrogen only | |
| Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen | |
| Carbon and nitrogen only | |
| Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen |
| Carbon and hydrogen only |
| Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen |
| Carbon and nitrogen only |
| Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen |
| Carbon and hydrogen only | ✔ |
| Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen | |
| Carbon and nitrogen only | |
| Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen |
| Carbon and hydrogen only |
| ✔ |
| Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen |
| Carbon and nitrogen only |
| Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The table gives some information about four hydrocarbons.
| Hydrocarbon | Melting point in °C | Boiling point in °C |
| Methane | -183 | -162 |
| Ethene | -169 | -104 |
| Octane | -57 | +126 |
| Decane | -30 | +174 |
| Hydrocarbon | Methane |
|---|---|
| Melting point in °C | -183 |
| Boiling point in °C | -162 |
| Hydrocarbon | Ethene |
|---|---|
| Melting point in °C | -169 |
| Boiling point in °C | -104 |
| Hydrocarbon | Octane |
|---|---|
| Melting point in °C | -57 |
| Boiling point in °C | +126 |
| Hydrocarbon | Decane |
|---|---|
| Melting point in °C | -30 |
| Boiling point in °C | +174 |
What are two correct statements about the four compounds? [2 marks]
Tick two boxes.
| Methane has the lowest boiling point and decane has the highest melting point | |
| Methane and decane are both gases at 20°C | |
| Ethene and octane are both alkanes | |
| Decane and ethene are both liquids at 0°C | |
| Octane is liquid over a larger temperature range than methane |
| Methane has the lowest boiling point and decane has the highest melting point |
| Methane and decane are both gases at 20°C |
| Ethene and octane are both alkanes |
| Decane and ethene are both liquids at 0°C |
| Octane is liquid over a larger temperature range than methane |
| Methane has the lowest boiling point and decane has the highest melting point | ✔ |
| Methane and decane are both gases at 20°C | |
| Ethene and octane are both alkanes | |
| Decane and ethene are both liquids at 0°C | |
| Octane is liquid over a larger temperature range than methane | ✔ |
| Methane has the lowest boiling point and decane has the highest melting point |
| ✔ |
| Methane and decane are both gases at 20°C |
| Ethene and octane are both alkanes |
| Decane and ethene are both liquids at 0°C |
| Octane is liquid over a larger temperature range than methane |
| ✔ |
