Academic Writing MCQs with Answers

University Level • Research • Formal Writing
1. Academic writing is mainly characterized by:
Personal opinions
Formal and objective tone
Slang language
Storytelling
Correct Answer: Formal and objective tone
2. The main purpose of academic writing is to:
Inform and argue logically
Entertain readers
Express emotions
Tell stories
Correct Answer: Inform and argue logically
3. Which voice is commonly used in academic writing?
First person only
Second person
Third person
Informal voice
Correct Answer: Third person
4. Plagiarism means:
Summarizing ideas
Using others’ work without citation
Referencing sources
Paraphrasing correctly
Correct Answer: Using others’ work without citation
5. Which is NOT a feature of academic writing?
Clarity
Evidence-based arguments
Formal structure
Casual language
Correct Answer: Casual language
6. A thesis statement should be:
Clear and specific
Very long
Unclear
Emotional
Correct Answer: Clear and specific
7. Which referencing style is commonly used in social sciences?
MLA
APA
Chicago only
Harvard only
Correct Answer: APA
8. Paraphrasing means:
Copying text
Removing references
Rewriting in your own words
Changing topic
Correct Answer: Rewriting in your own words
9. Academic sources are usually:
Peer-reviewed
Personal blogs
Social media posts
Wikipedia only
Correct Answer: Peer-reviewed
10. Which section presents summarized findings?
Introduction
Methodology
Discussion
Conclusion
Correct Answer: Conclusion
11. An abstract of a research paper usually contains:
Detailed references
Summary of the study
Only conclusions
Raw data
Correct Answer: Summary of the study
12. Which tense is commonly used in academic writing?
Future tense only
Past tense only
Present and past tense
Informal tense
Correct Answer: Present and past tense
13. A literature review aims to:
Review existing research
Give personal opinions
Describe methodology only
Summarize results
Correct Answer: Review existing research
14. Which word should be avoided in academic writing?
Therefore
Moreover
However
Stuff
Correct Answer: Stuff
15. Which section explains how research was conducted?
Introduction
Methodology
Conclusion
Abstract
Correct Answer: Methodology
16. Citations are used to:
Increase word count
Avoid grammar mistakes
Give credit to original authors
Replace references
Correct Answer: Give credit to original authors
17. A topic sentence usually appears:
At the beginning of a paragraph
In the conclusion only
At the end of essay
In references
Correct Answer: At the beginning of a paragraph
18. Which is an academic source?
Facebook post
Personal blog
Online forum
Scholarly journal
Correct Answer: Scholarly journal
19. Academic writing should be:
Emotional
Objective
Biased
Casual
Correct Answer: Objective
20. The reference list appears:
Before introduction
After abstract
At the end of the document
In methodology
Correct Answer: At the end of the document
22. Which section states the research problem?
Conclusion
Introduction
References
Appendix
Correct Answer: Introduction
23. Which word is most appropriate in academic writing?
Kids
A lot
Children
Stuff
Correct Answer: Children
24. Academic writing should avoid:
Evidence
References
Formal tone
Bias
Correct Answer: Bias
25. A paragraph should focus on:
One main idea
Multiple topics
Stories
Opinions only
Correct Answer: One main idea
26. Which citation style uses author-date format?
MLA
APA
Vancouver
IEEE
Correct Answer: APA
27. Which section interprets results?
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Abstract
Correct Answer: Discussion
28. Paraphrasing requires:
New wording and citation
Copying text
Removing meaning
No reference
Correct Answer: New wording and citation
29. Which source is least reliable?
Journal article
Academic book
Conference paper
Personal blog
Correct Answer: Personal blog
30. Academic writing should be:
Emotional
Objective
Casual
Humorous
Correct Answer: Objective
31. A conclusion should:
Summarize key points
Introduce new ideas
Add references
Repeat introduction
Correct Answer: Summarize key points
32. Which improves clarity?
Long sentences
Complex words
Clear and concise language
Slang
Correct Answer: Clear and concise language
33. Which tense is often used in results?
Future
Past
Present continuous
Informal
Correct Answer: Past
34. A bibliography lists:
All sources used
Only websites
Figures
Tables
Correct Answer: All sources used
35. Which should be avoided?
Formal vocabulary
Evidence
Logical flow
Contractions
Correct Answer: Contractions
36. Peer review means:
Public opinion
Evaluation by experts
Student feedback
Self review
Correct Answer: Evaluation by experts
37. Which improves coherence?
Linking words
Slang
Personal tone
Emotions
Correct Answer: Linking words
38. Which is formal?
Gonna
Wanna
Going to
Kinda
Correct Answer: Going to
39. A table is used to:
Decorate text
Present data clearly
Replace analysis
Add words
Correct Answer: Present data clearly
40. Academic integrity relates to:
Honesty in work
Formatting
Design
Length
Correct Answer: Honesty in work
41. Which improves academic style?
Slang
Personal stories
Precise vocabulary
Emojis
Correct Answer: Precise vocabulary
42. An outline helps to:
Organize ideas
Increase plagiarism
Avoid citations
Add grammar errors
Correct Answer: Organize ideas
43. Which should be cited?
Common knowledge
Personal opinion
Own experience
Borrowed ideas
Correct Answer: Borrowed ideas
44. Editing focuses on:
Idea generation
Improving clarity and structure
Research
Plagiarism
Correct Answer: Improving clarity and structure
45. Which is an academic verb?
Analyze
Get
Do
Make
Correct Answer: Analyze
46. Which improves readability?
No headings
Long paragraphs
Clear headings
Random text
Correct Answer: Clear headings
47. Which is primary source?
Textbook
Research article
Blog
Wikipedia
Correct Answer: Research article
48. Academic writing avoids:
Informal expressions
Evidence
References
Analysis
Correct Answer: Informal expressions
49. Which strengthens an argument?
Opinions
Assumptions
Evidence
Emotions
Correct Answer: Evidence
50. Academic writing mainly aims to:
Entertain
Inform and argue logically
Tell stories
Express emotions
Correct Answer: Inform and argue logically

Academic Writing MCQs

Academic Writing MCQs are designed to help university and international students understand the principles of formal academic writing. These questions focus on clarity, structure, referencing, plagiarism avoidance, and proper academic tone. Practicing these MCQs helps students improve their writing accuracy and confidence in academic and research-based tasks.

This MCQ set is especially useful for students preparing assignments, research papers, and exams where academic writing skills are essential. Due to limited MCQ-based resources available online for this subject, Academic Writing MCQs offer strong learning value with minimal competition, making them ideal for long-term educational use.