Options (Answer Choices)
Options (answer choices) are the possible responses you can select from.
Multiple‑choice single‑answer questions have only one correct option. This format requires you to compare each option to the stem and identify the single best option.
Multiple‑choice multiple‑answer questions may have one or more correct options. Exam writers use this format to test whether you can evaluate each option on its own and determine which option or options are correct.
We’ll discuss how to evaluate both single‑answer and multiple‑answer questions later in this article.
Distractors
Distractors are incorrect or misleading options. Their purpose is to determine whether you understand the material well enough to tell correct information from information that is close, incomplete, or based on a common misconception.
A good distractor sounds reasonable, contains a small error or missing detail, or is a true statement that does not answer the question being asked.