General Multiple-Choice Advice

If you're taking any multiple-choice assessment, there are plenty of resources on the Internet that you can look at for strategies on multiple-choice.

I've researched multiple universities and other sites' advice for taking multiple-choice assessments and have collected that information in this section.  This is not about the Scrum.org™ assessments specifically, but is generally about approaching multiple-choice questions.  Here are 25 short, general strategies to help you take the assessment.

Read and Interpret the Question Correctly

1. Read the entire question with precision. The most common mistake is misreading—slow down and process every word.

2. Treat the question as a complete thought. Early wording may mislead if you don’t read the full question.

3. Watch for meaning “flips.” Words such as not, except, false, best, first, but, although, and nevertheless often reverse intent.

4. Ignore distracting preamble. Extra background or context may be irrelevant to what is actually being asked.

5. Restate the question in your own words. Cover the answers, paraphrase the question, and confirm what it is truly asking.

Form an Initial Hypothesis

6. Predict an answer before reading the options. Your focus is strongest immediately after reading the question—use that moment.

7. Assume the question is not a trick. Most errors come from overthinking or missing keywords, not intentional deception.

Evaluate Answer Choices Systematically

8. Eliminate clearly wrong answers aggressively. Remove options that are inaccurate, incomplete, or only true in limited circumstances.

9. Reject answers that require assumptions. If you must invent conditions for an answer to work, it is probably wrong.

10. Avoid answers justified by edge cases. If you find yourself imagining rare scenarios to make an option correct, eliminate it.

11. Be cautious of answers that repeat the question verbatim. Correct answers usually paraphrase rather than restate.

12. Watch for new terms introduced in the answer. If the response adds concepts not present in the question, it is often incorrect.

13. Eliminate answers that are correct but do not answer the question. Accuracy alone is not enough—relevance matters.

Compare Closely Related Options

14. When two options are very similar, compare them word-by-word. Small differences often determine correctness.

15. When two answers contradict each other, one is usually correct. Focus your analysis there.

16. “Test” close contenders by treating each as true. Reread the question with each option inserted—only one should fit cleanly.

Watch for Common Red Flags

17. Be wary of absolute language. Words like always, never, all, and must are frequently indicators of incorrect answers.

18. Check numerical values carefully. Numbers that are unrealistically small, large, or mismatched in scale are often wrong.

19. Watch for mismatched precision. Differences such as hours vs. weeks or days vs. months can signal an incorrect response.

20. Look for grammatical cues. Verb tense or agreement that mirrors the question may be misleading.

21. Avoid slang or casual language. Professional assessments favor precise, formal wording.

Make the Final Decision

22. Use your intuition as a signal, not a decision. If an option feels “off,” pause and verify it logically.

23. Confirm the match before moving on. Reread the question with your chosen answer to ensure they make sense together.

Manage Time Intentionally

24. Do not linger too long on difficult questions. Make the best choice you can, bookmark it, and return later.

25. Protect the clock. One stubborn question should never cost you multiple easier ones.