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
Which two substances are mixtures? Tick two boxes. [2 marks]
| A | Air | |
| B | Carbon dioxide | |
| C | Graphite | |
| D | Sodium chloride | |
| E | Steel |
| A |
|---|
| Air |
| B |
|---|
| Carbon dioxide |
| C |
|---|
| Graphite |
| D |
|---|
| Sodium chloride |
| E |
|---|
| Steel |
| A | Air | ✔ |
| B | Carbon dioxide | |
| C | Graphite | |
| D | Sodium chloride | |
| E | Steel | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| Air |
| ✔ |
| B |
|---|
| Carbon dioxide |
| C |
|---|
| Graphite |
| D |
|---|
| Sodium chloride |
| E |
|---|
| Steel |
| ✔ |
Sample question 2 - Foundation
Question
The electronic structures of the atoms of five elements are shown below:
Which element is a metal in the same group of the periodic table as element A? [1 mark]
E
Sample question 3 - Higher
Question
The table below shows the boiling points of some elements in group 7 of the periodic table.
| Element | Boiling point |
| Fluorine | -188°C |
| Chlorine | -35°C |
| Bromine | 59°C |
| Iodine | 184°C |
| Element | Fluorine |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | -188°C |
| Element | Chlorine |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | -35°C |
| Element | Bromine |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 59°C |
| Element | Iodine |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 184°C |
Why does iodine have a higher boiling point than chlorine? Tick one box. [1 mark]
| A | Iodine is ionic and chlorine is covalent | |
| B | Iodine is less reactive than chlorine | |
| C | The covalent bonds between iodine atoms are stronger | |
| D | The forces between iodine molecules are stronger |
| A |
|---|
| Iodine is ionic and chlorine is covalent |
| B |
|---|
| Iodine is less reactive than chlorine |
| C |
|---|
| The covalent bonds between iodine atoms are stronger |
| D |
|---|
| The forces between iodine molecules are stronger |
| A | Iodine is ionic and chlorine is covalent | |
| B | Iodine is less reactive than chlorine | |
| C | The covalent bonds between iodine atoms are stronger | |
| D | The forces between iodine molecules are stronger | ✔ |
| A |
|---|
| Iodine is ionic and chlorine is covalent |
| B |
|---|
| Iodine is less reactive than chlorine |
| C |
|---|
| The covalent bonds between iodine atoms are stronger |
| D |
|---|
| The forces between iodine molecules are stronger |
| ✔ |
Sample question 4 - Higher
Question
The chemical symbol for an aluminium ion is \(_{13}^{27}\textrm{Al}^{3+}\).
How many protons, neutrons and electrons are in one ion? Tick one box. [1 mark]
| Number of protons | Number of neutrons | Number of electrons | ||
| A | 13 | 14 | 10 | |
| B | 13 | 14 | 13 | |
| C | 13 | 14 | 16 | |
| D | 14 | 13 | 11 | |
| E | 14 | 13 | 17 |
| A | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 13 |
| Number of neutrons | 14 |
| Number of electrons | 10 |
| B | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 13 |
| Number of neutrons | 14 |
| Number of electrons | 13 |
| C | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 13 |
| Number of neutrons | 14 |
| Number of electrons | 16 |
| D | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 14 |
| Number of neutrons | 13 |
| Number of electrons | 11 |
| E | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 14 |
| Number of neutrons | 13 |
| Number of electrons | 17 |
| Number of protons | Number of neutrons | Number of electrons | |||
| A | 13 | 14 | 10 | ✔ | |
| B | 13 | 14 | 13 | ||
| C | 13 | 14 | 16 | ||
| D | 14 | 13 | 11 | ||
| E | 14 | 13 | 17 |
| A | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 13 |
| Number of neutrons | 14 |
| Number of electrons | 10 |
| ✔ | |
| B | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 13 |
| Number of neutrons | 14 |
| Number of electrons | 13 |
| C | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 13 |
| Number of neutrons | 14 |
| Number of electrons | 16 |
| D | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 14 |
| Number of neutrons | 13 |
| Number of electrons | 11 |
| E | |
|---|---|
| Number of protons | 14 |
| Number of neutrons | 13 |
| Number of electrons | 17 |
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