MBE Tip: The Distractor

The word used by the NCBE for the one answer that is expected to trip up test takers is the "distractor."

Two answers are supposed to be relatively easy to eliminate, one answer is correct, and one is intended to distract from the correct answer. But what makes it the distractor? These answers are generally pretty good (If they weren't, they'd fail in their goal of distracting.) The only thing that makes them incorrect is that there is an answer that is objectively better. And so if you seek out the correct answer without first reading all choices, the distractor has a better shot at distracting you. By reading all four answers before choosing, you'll at least give yourself an opportunity to see if there's a better answer among them. Play this game correctly, and your score jumps.