In the ever-evolving landscape of education, multiple choice questions (MCQs) stand out for their unique blend of simplicity and depth — making the most popular choice for many to use in quizzes and indispensable in education assessments. However, they're not just assessment tools, but also powerful engagement mechanisms that foster learning and memory retention.

Let's explore their importance, how to use them effectively and take a look at 10 MCQs you can use in your class. 

Effective Live Assessment 

MCQs allow educators to quickly assess students' understanding of a broad range of topics, providing insight into both individual and collective knowledge gaps. Quickfire questions like the below that aren't overcomplicated are great for speedy knowledge retention. Here's some MCQ examples: 

What is the fear of having no mobile phone signal called?
A) Nomophobia
B) Technophobia
C) Phonophobia
D) Signalophobia
Correct Answer: A) Nomophobia

Who invented Bungee jumping?
A)    Swiss Mountaineers
B)    Australian Skydivers
C)    Oxford University’s Dangerous Sports Club
D)    French Paratroopers

Correct answer: Oxford University’s Dangerous Sports Club

Correct answer explanation:
Bungee jumping was invented by Oxford University’s Dangerous Sports Club. They were inspired by watching Indigenous people of Vanuatu jump from 100-foot towers made of tree branches with vines tied to their ankles.

In what country did the first Starbucks open outside of North America?
A)    Australia
B)    United Kingdom
C)    Japan
D)    China

Correct answer: Japan

Correct answer explanation:
Japan opened its first Starbucks on a humid August day in 1996 in the upscale Ginza district of Tokyo. Opening day began with a reassuring sign: Howard Schultz (store owner) arrived to find 100 people in line for the 6:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting. The first customer, an excited young man in his twenties, rushed to the counter and uttered the only English words he knew: “Double short latte!”

Increase Engagement & Interaction

Multiple choice quizzes can transform passive learning into an active experience, especially with the use of interactive platforms and technologies that provide instant feedback. This enables students to actively engage with the questions and experiencing learning in a more dynamic way. Questions that offer corect answer explantions also engages the students with the reasoning behind the answer and the context as well. Here's some MCQ examples: 

Coccinella is the Latin term for what common beetle?
A) The ladybird/ladybugs
B) The scarab beetle
C) The dung beetle
D) The American spider beetle
E) The Firefly

Correct answer: The ladybird/ladybugs
Correct answer explanation:
The origins of the name “ladybug” trace back to when European farmers would pray to Virgin Mary to prevent their crops from being destroyed by pests. One ladybug can eat up to 5,000 insects in its lifetime. They can play dead to protect themselves, and they hibernate in winter.

What do you call a large number of alligators together?
a)    A business of alligators
b)    An army of alligators
c)    A congregation of alligators
d)    A coalition of alligators

Correct answer: a congregation of alligators.
Correct answer explanation: Other funny names for groups of animals include: a shrewdness of apes, a sloth of bears, an army of caterpillars, a coalition of cheetahs, a murder of crows, a cowardice of dogs & a pace of donkeys. 

In art history, which artistic movement emerged in the early 20th century, emphasizing spontaneous expression, abstract forms, and often featuring non-traditional materials?

A) Fauvism
B) Dadaism
C) Suprematism
D) Cubism
E) Surrealism

Correct answer: Dadaism

Correct answer explanation:
Infamously called the “anti-art” art movement, Dadaism developed out of disgust and resentment from the bloodshed and horror of World War I, which began in 1914 and ended in 1918. Dadaism's main purpose was to challenge the social norms of society, and purposefully make art that would shock, confuse, or outrage people.

What is the name of the famous rapper who also goes by the nickname "Slim Shady"?
A) Kanye West
B) Drake
C) Eminem
D) Snoop Dogg

Correct Answer: C) Eminem

Correct answer explanation:
Eminem started rapping at 14 years of age. Eminem’s debut album was a huge success. Released in 1996, “Infinite” marked the beginning of Eminem’s career. Although it received mixed reviews, it laid the foundation for his future success.

Encouraging Critical Thinking

Well-crafted MCQs challenge students to apply logic and reasoning, going beyond mere memorization to understand the 'why' and 'how' behind each answer. Multiple choice questions can enable students to rationalize between the options to put in practice the knowledge they have. A great MCQ will be balanced in style and will have options that will make the student think carefully. Here's some MCQ examples: 

What does a consigliere do?
A) Books flights and hotel rooms for other members of the family when they travel
B) Carries out hits
C) Advises the boss
D) Is the Don’s right hand man

Correct answer: Advises the boss
Correct answer explanation: Consiglieres act as impartial advisers to the head of a mafia family, or the don. This vital position usually lies outside of the family hierarchy.

If you were the lecturer of this class what would your signature spell and what would it do?
A)    Cramtasticus Maximus - Temporarily enhances memory
B)    Projectum Hilarious - Turns mundane presentations into stand-up comedy routines
C)    WiFi Patronum - Boosts classroom WiFi strength
D)    Emojius Exaggeratus – magically add emojis to every slide
E)    Sleepus Interruptus- Prevents students from dozing off during lectures
F)    Attendanceus Vanishus - Temporarily erases attendance records

No right or wrong answer or scoring

What is the term for a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward, such as "radar" or "level"?

A) Palindrome
B) Anagram
C) Tautonym
D) Ambigram

Correct answer: A) Palindrome

Correct answer explanation:
More examples of palindromes include: kayak, rotor, madam, racecar, reviver, Malayalam, 
civic, sagas, rotavator & stats. 

Top tips & best practices for crafting MCQs

• Focus on clarity: Ensure the question and options are clear and concise, avoiding any ambiguity that could confuse students.

• Diversify the difficulty levels: Mix easier questions with more challenging ones to cater to a wide range of abilities, keeping all students engaged and motivated.

• Provide immediate feedback: Take advantage of digital tools that offer immediate feedback, helping students learn from their mistakes and successes in real-time.

• Incorporate real-world scenarios: Frame questions in the context of real-world scenarios to make them more relatable and interesting. This approach not only tests their knowledge but also their ability to apply it practically.

• Utilize multimedia elements: When possible, include GIFs, emojis, images or videos in your MCQs to cater to different learning styles and break the monotony of text-based learning.

• Encourage peer learning: Use MCQs as a starting point for group discussions or peer learning sessions, where students can debate their choices and learn from different perspectives.

• Leverage Technology: Implement digital platforms for creating and administering MCQs and make the whole experience more engaging. These tools often provide analytics that can help tailor future quizzes to address learning gaps.

Getting started with multiple choice polls