--- title: Multiple-Choice Question description: A multiple-choice question is a question type where the respondent is asked to choose one or more items from a list of choices. Test drive it for free today 👉 --- [Skip to content](https://help.pointerpro.com/multiple-choice-question#main-content) [![Pointerpro-logo](https://help.pointerpro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pointerpro-logo.png?width=188&height=53&name=Pointerpro-logo.png)](https://pointerpro.com/) - [Getting started](https://help.pointerpro.com/how-to-get-started-with-pointerpro) - [Pricing](https://pointerpro.com/pricing) - [Customer stories](https://pointerpro.com/case-studies) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Getting started](https://help.pointerpro.com/how-to-get-started-with-pointerpro) - [Pricing](https://pointerpro.com/pricing) - [Customer stories](https://pointerpro.com/case-studies) - [New here? Explore what Pointerpro can do](https://www.pointerpro.com/) [New here? 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[Glossary](https://help.pointerpro.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#glossary) # Multiple-Choice Question A multiple-choice question is a [question type](https://help.pointerpro.com/migration/knowledge/overview-of-different-question-types?hsLang=en) where the respondent is asked to choose one or more items from a limited list of choices. ##### You'll need this: - One of these Pointerpro plans: ![](https://assets.pointerpro.com/custom/help-guide/Pointerpro+icon+Orange.svg)  Professional         ![](https://assets.pointerpro.com/custom/help-guide/Pointerpro+icon+Orange.svg)  Enterprise         ![](https://assets.pointerpro.com/custom/help-guide/Pointerpro+icon+Orange.svg)  ReportR         ![](https://assets.pointerpro.com/custom/help-guide/Pointerpro+icon+Orange.svg)  DistributR    ---   DEFINITION   A multiple-choice question consists of a stem, the correct answer, and distractors. The stem is the beginning part of the item, that presents the item as a problem to be solved, a question, or an incomplete statement to be completed. The options are the possible answers you can choose from, with the correct answer called the key and the incorrect answers called distractors. ##### On this help guide page: 1. [MCQs example](https://help.pointerpro.com/multiple-choice-question#mcq-examples) 2. [Advantages of MCQs](https://help.pointerpro.com/multiple-choice-question#advantages) 3. [Disadvantages of MCQs](https://help.pointerpro.com/multiple-choice-question#disadvantages) 4. [MCQs question tips](https://help.pointerpro.com/multiple-choice-question#question-tips) --- #### 1. MCQs example ![Multiple choice question -example](https://help.pointerpro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Multiple%20choice%20question%20-example.png?width=670&height=321&name=Multiple%20choice%20question%20-example.png) You can select between two types of MCQs: [Text choice](https://help.pointerpro.com/migration/knowledge/text-choice?hsLang=en) and [image choice.](https://help.pointerpro.com/migration/knowledge/image-choice?hsLang=en)  ![Multiple image choice - example](https://help.pointerpro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Multiple%20image%20choice%20-%20example.png?width=670&height=329&name=Multiple%20image%20choice%20-%20example.png) TIP   This [complete guide on how to create efficient multiple-choice questions](https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/writing-good-multiple-choice-test-questions/) is a great resource if you want to use MC questions in your next survey. #### 2. Advantages of MCQs - They have fast processing times - There's no room for subjectivity - You can ask more questions, as it takes less time to complete a multiple-choice question compared to an open question - Respondents don't have to formulate an answer but can focus on the content #### 3. Disadvantages of MCQs - While they are fast processed, they are time-consuming to create:  they require time to draw up effective stem questions and corresponding choices - They don't produce any qualitative data, solely quantitative - They limit the respondent in his answers, that's why it's important to provide an "other" option with a textbox ![Multiple-Choice Question- add a text box to leave an extra comment](https://help.pointerpro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Multiple-Choice%20Question-%20add%20a%20text%20box%20to%20leave%20an%20extra%20comment.png?width=670&height=325&name=Multiple-Choice%20Question-%20add%20a%20text%20box%20to%20leave%20an%20extra%20comment.png) #### 4. MCQs question tips - Use simple sentence structure and precise wording - Make all options plausible - Keep all answer choices the same length - Avoid double negatives - Keep the number of options consistent - Avoid tricking test-takers, you should test their knowledge, not their reading skills - Mix up the order of the correct answers (when testing knowledge) ![Multiple-Choice Question- shuffle answers](https://help.pointerpro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Multiple-Choice%20Question-%20shuffle%20answers.png?width=670&height=302&name=Multiple-Choice%20Question-%20shuffle%20answers.png) TIP   Check out the [entire glossary list](https://assets.pointerpro.com/custom/help-guide/GlossaryA4_09222017.pdf) in a printable list. #### What's next? - [Smiley rating](https://help.pointerpro.com/migration/knowledge/smiley-rating?hsLang=en): A smiley rating question is a rating one, most often used to get a clear view of how someone likes your product, service, or business. It is a 5-point rating scale intended to represent a range of sentiments from negative to neutral to positive, making smiley ratings most useful when measuring emotions or feelings. - [Rating scale questions](https://help.pointerpro.com/migration/knowledge/rating-scale-questions?hsLang=en): a rating scale is a method that requires the respondent to assign a value, sometimes numeric, to the rated object. Rating scales are popular in research because they offer the flexibility of response together with many possible types of quantitative analysis. - A [radio button rating question](https://help.pointerpro.com/migration/knowledge/radio-button-rating?hsLang=en) allows the respondents to choose an answer between 0 and 10. Only a single answer can be chosen each time. 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