How to
CONQUER
Unisa mcq
assignments!
Written by Tabitha Bailey
Together We Pass
FOUNDER AND CEO
www.togetherwepass.co.za
[email protected]
Tel: 021 591 0673
Graduation is our goal
We all have the same goal – to graduate. We may have a million different reasons why we
want that illusive degree, but for most of it is to improve our work options, and be able to get
that dream job we always wanted. This means better pay, hopefully a more stimulating work
environment and advances our careers significantly.
However…..
Only
15%
of UNISA students get their degree.
A horrifying statistic right?
I am writing this booklet in the hopes of improving your chances of mastering the fine art of
UNISA assignments and the devious multiple choice question (MCQ).
Don’t be fooled – MCQs does not mean easy, and UNISA is the master of the trick question. I
hope this booklet gives you some quick tips on how to get started with your MCQ
assignments, and some quick tips to help with MCQs for assignments and exams.
Good luck this term!
© 2014 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
pg. 1
How to approach your MCQ assignment
This technique helps you know what is
important to remember for exams, and at
the same time improves your marks for the
assignment itself. It is easy to master, and
very very effective! This is most helpful for
theoretical subjects – less so for practical
ones like Accounting. Unfortunately there it
is a matter of practice practice and more
practice – there is no shortcut and needs
consistent work through the term!
Here is a step by step guide:
1. As you start your first read through of your coursework, keep your assignment open
in front of you.
2. Read the first few questions of the assignment, and as you start to go through the
course material you will start to recognise the answers.
3. In this way you answer your assignment questions AS YOU READ THE THEORY – which
ensure a much higher level of accuracy than if you try to complete them later from
memory.
4. Keep reading ahead with the questions as you go through the textbook and you will
find it easier and easier to whittle out those answers as you get to them.
5. This trick not only improves your assignment results, but also makes you see exactly
which bits of the course material are important – because UNISA uses assignments to
test you on what you are going to need to know for exams.
6. In this way you are going to improve your memory for these particular facts – a great
plus when you are trying to recall them under the massive stress of exam conditions.
This simple trick is also an excellent way to keep you motivated to keep studying. As you see
your list of answered assignment questions growing it is a very real way to experience and
acknowledge your progress – which is a reward all in itself!
© 2014 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
pg. 2
Compare and discuss your assignments to improve further
And how best to improve your understanding and
marks further?
Compare and discuss that
assignment with other students!
As you know I am a firm believer in social learning –
which is the learning that happens when start to
engage with your peers.
No 1 top tip:
The best way to learn is to teach. So try to explain
a concept to your group – it clarifies your thinking,
and helps you to remember it for exams! AND it
helps your peers. Win win all round.
Some things to consider around assignment comparison:
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Make sure you protect your work – UNISA can penalise cheating
If comparing essays only compare the outline or structure, never the whole thing
Once you compare your answers and find a question that you all get different answers –
DISCUSS IT WITH THE GROUP! That is the whole point of comparing!
If everyone else chooses a different answer to you but you are sure of your answer – tell
the group why! You could have stumbled on a clever trick question and be the only one
who got it right. Argue your point – again it sharpens everyone’s understanding of the
material and could pick you up valuable marks for the assignment.
This should be a very interactive process – the more you discuss the better your
understanding and marks will be!! Also the better you will remember each point for exams.
The more you actively engage with the material and your fellow students the better you will
do, and better you will feel – and the closer you will be graduation.
Remember Together We Pass has developed a special app to help you compare your MCQ
assignments without fear of cheating. Follow this link to find out more.
© 2014 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
pg. 3
How to tackle MCQ questions
Here is another step by step guide – this time
on answering multiple choice questions. I
know UNISA gives out lots of information on
answering multiple choice questions but if you
are anything like me you probably read
through the first few points and then
discarded them.
These are important!!
And they REALLY HELP – so dismiss at your
peril.
When answering multiple choice questions for Assignments:
1. First block out the answers, and read the question
2. Read the question again (don’t open the answers yet) analysing the question type
3. Underline words like correct, incorrect, always, never and only. Or not, except and but
which.
4. Jot down what you think the answer might be (this is the MOST important step before
revealing the answer options. Seeing the options can confuse you and you might find you
had the answer in your head all the time before becoming confused by being faced with 4
options that all look correct)
5. I cannot stress this enough – do NOT rely on the options to “spot” the right answer – one of
the best tricks UNISA applies is making all the answers look right.
6. After jotting down what you think is the right answer open the options and read through
them. You could at this stage easily be able to see the answer
7. If not, cross out the two that you think are the least likely to be correct
8. Return to the text to find evidence/ support – skim the text for keywords in the question or
answer options
9. You should quite easily have the correct answer now
For exams follow exactly the same steps - bar step 6 obviously. 
Just remember the most important aspect is to jot down what you think the answer might be before
you see the answer options. If you do nothing else this should help you avoid falling for tricks.
© 2014 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
pg. 4
Thanks for reading my booklet on how to conquer your UNISA assignments. I hope it was useful! I
always love feedback so get in touch any time if you need help with any of your UNISA studies, or
just need someone to chat to keep you motivated to get your degree.
Helping UNISA students pass is my passion! So get in touch if you do need anything.
If you would like further help with improving your marks please join us in our Together We Pass
study groups which have other great ways of improving your marks.
These are some of the benefits of joining:

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Improve understanding and keep up with your studies with tutor led study groups
Never get stuck again – ask the group and your tutor for help when you don’t understand
Access to the biggest library of notes, past papers and tutorial letters available to UNISA
students ANYWHERE!
Get awesome marks through our cheat-free Assignment Comparison App
Ace those exams by using our Exam Revision App
I look forward joining you on this journey that is a UNISA degree and hope to see you in the groups
soon.
Keep well
Tabitha Bailey
FOUNDER & CEO
TELEPHONE 021 591 0673
EMAIL [email protected]
WEB www.togetherwepass.co.za
FB www.facebook.com/togetherwepass
GOOGLE+ Together We Pass on Google Plus
TWITTER @togetherwepass / @tabbybailey
© 2014 Together We Pass. All rights reserved.
pg. 5