Practice RAG Basics MCQ questions with detailed explanations and clear answer validation. These MCQs help you revise core concepts, compare close options, and improve accuracy for interviews, certification exams, and technical screening rounds. Use this updated 2026 set to strengthen fundamentals and confidence.
Here, Sparse, lexical relevance scoring. is the right choice. Strong baseline. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which statement about bm25 is most accurate. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q52. How is BM25 best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Sparse, lexical relevance scoring.
In this case, Sparse, lexical relevance scoring. is correct. Strong baseline. It aligns directly with what the question asks about how is bm25 best characterized. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q53. Which option best describes reranking?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Re-order top-k with stronger model.
The best option here is Re-order top-k with stronger model.. Cross-encoders or LLMs. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which option best describes reranking. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q54. What is the primary purpose of reranking?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Re-order top-k with stronger model.
For this question, Re-order top-k with stronger model. is correct. Cross-encoders or LLMs. It aligns directly with what the question asks about what is the primary purpose of reranking. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q55. Which statement about reranking is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Re-order top-k with stronger model.
Re-order top-k with stronger model. is the correct answer here. Cross-encoders or LLMs. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which statement about reranking is most accurate. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q56. How is reranking best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Re-order top-k with stronger model.
Here, Re-order top-k with stronger model. is the right choice. Cross-encoders or LLMs. This matches the core idea being tested around how is reranking best characterized. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q57. Which option best describes a cross-encoder?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring.
In this case, Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring. is correct. Slower but more accurate. This matches the core idea being tested around which option best describes a cross-encoder. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q58. What is the primary purpose of a cross-encoder?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring.
The best option here is Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring.. Slower but more accurate. This matches the core idea being tested around what is the primary purpose of a cross-encoder. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q59. Which statement about a cross-encoder is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring.
For this question, Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring. is correct. Slower but more accurate. This matches the core idea being tested around which statement about a cross-encoder is most accurate. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q60. How is a cross-encoder best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring.
Joint encoder of query+doc for scoring. is the correct answer here. Slower but more accurate. This matches the core idea being tested around how is a cross-encoder best characterized. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q61. Which option best describes a bi-encoder?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Separate encoders for query and doc.
Here, Separate encoders for query and doc. is the right choice. Used for first-stage retrieval. That is exactly the concept behind which option best describes a bi-encoder in this context. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q62. What is the primary purpose of a bi-encoder?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Separate encoders for query and doc.
In this case, Separate encoders for query and doc. is correct. Used for first-stage retrieval. That is exactly the concept behind what is the primary purpose of a bi-encoder in this context. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q63. Which statement about a bi-encoder is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Separate encoders for query and doc.
The best option here is Separate encoders for query and doc.. Used for first-stage retrieval. That is exactly the concept behind which statement about a bi-encoder is most accurate in this context. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q64. How is a bi-encoder best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Separate encoders for query and doc.
For this question, Separate encoders for query and doc. is correct. Used for first-stage retrieval. That is exactly the concept behind how is a bi-encoder best characterized in this context. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q65. Which option best describes metadata filters?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Filter retrieval by attributes.
Filter retrieval by attributes. is the correct answer here. Useful for tenants/dates. That is exactly the concept behind which option best describes metadata filters in this context. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q66. What is the primary purpose of metadata filters?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Filter retrieval by attributes.
Here, Filter retrieval by attributes. is the right choice. Useful for tenants/dates. It fits the requirement in the prompt about what is the primary purpose of metadata filters. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q67. Which statement about metadata filters is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Filter retrieval by attributes.
In this case, Filter retrieval by attributes. is correct. Useful for tenants/dates. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which statement about metadata filters is most accurate. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q68. How is metadata filters best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Filter retrieval by attributes.
The best option here is Filter retrieval by attributes.. Useful for tenants/dates. It fits the requirement in the prompt about how is metadata filters best characterized. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q69. Which option best describes query rewriting?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Reformulate user query before search.
For this question, Reformulate user query before search. is correct. Improves recall. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which option best describes query rewriting. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q70. What is the primary purpose of query rewriting?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Reformulate user query before search.
Reformulate user query before search. is the correct answer here. Improves recall. It fits the requirement in the prompt about what is the primary purpose of query rewriting. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q71. Which statement about query rewriting is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Reformulate user query before search.
Here, Reformulate user query before search. is the right choice. Improves recall. This is the most accurate statement for which statement about query rewriting is most accurate. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q72. How is query rewriting best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Reformulate user query before search.
In this case, Reformulate user query before search. is correct. Improves recall. This is the most accurate statement for how is query rewriting best characterized. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q73. Which option best describes HyDE?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed.
The best option here is Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed.. Helps abstract queries. This is the most accurate statement for which option best describes hyde. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q74. What is the primary purpose of HyDE?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed.
For this question, Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed. is correct. Helps abstract queries. This is the most accurate statement for what is the primary purpose of hyde. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q75. Which statement about HyDE is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed.
Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed. is the correct answer here. Helps abstract queries. This is the most accurate statement for which statement about hyde is most accurate. Competing choices sound plausible, but they miss the key condition.
Q76. How is HyDE best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed.
Here, Hypothetical Document Embeddings: synthesize then embed. is the right choice. Helps abstract queries. It aligns directly with what the question asks about how is hyde best characterized. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q77. Which option best describes citations?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Attribute generated content to sources.
In this case, Attribute generated content to sources. is correct. Improves trust and audit. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which option best describes citations. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q78. What is the primary purpose of citations?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Attribute generated content to sources.
The best option here is Attribute generated content to sources.. Improves trust and audit. It aligns directly with what the question asks about what is the primary purpose of citations. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q79. Which statement about citations is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Attribute generated content to sources.
For this question, Attribute generated content to sources. is correct. Improves trust and audit. It aligns directly with what the question asks about which statement about citations is most accurate. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q80. How is citations best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Attribute generated content to sources.
Attribute generated content to sources. is the correct answer here. Improves trust and audit. It aligns directly with what the question asks about how is citations best characterized. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q81. Which option best describes groundedness?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Answers supported by retrieved evidence.
Here, Answers supported by retrieved evidence. is the right choice. Reduces hallucinations. This matches the core idea being tested around which option best describes groundedness. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q82. What is the primary purpose of groundedness?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Answers supported by retrieved evidence.
In this case, Answers supported by retrieved evidence. is correct. Reduces hallucinations. This matches the core idea being tested around what is the primary purpose of groundedness. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q83. Which statement about groundedness is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Answers supported by retrieved evidence.
The best option here is Answers supported by retrieved evidence.. Reduces hallucinations. This matches the core idea being tested around which statement about groundedness is most accurate. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q84. How is groundedness best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Answers supported by retrieved evidence.
For this question, Answers supported by retrieved evidence. is correct. Reduces hallucinations. This matches the core idea being tested around how is groundedness best characterized. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q85. Which option best describes evaluation of RAG?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Retrieval recall + answer quality.
Retrieval recall + answer quality. is the correct answer here. RAGAS, ARES, etc. This matches the core idea being tested around which option best describes evaluation of rag. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q86. What is the primary purpose of evaluation of RAG?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Retrieval recall + answer quality.
Here, Retrieval recall + answer quality. is the right choice. RAGAS, ARES, etc. That is exactly the concept behind what is the primary purpose of evaluation of in this context. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q87. Which statement about evaluation of RAG is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Retrieval recall + answer quality.
In this case, Retrieval recall + answer quality. is correct. RAGAS, ARES, etc. That is exactly the concept behind which statement about evaluation of rag is most in this context. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q88. How is evaluation of RAG best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Retrieval recall + answer quality.
The best option here is Retrieval recall + answer quality.. RAGAS, ARES, etc. That is exactly the concept behind how is evaluation of rag best characterized in this context. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q89. Which option best describes re-embedding on schema change?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Recompute embeddings when model changes.
For this question, Recompute embeddings when model changes. is correct. Avoid mismatched vector spaces. That is exactly the concept behind which option best describes re-embedding on schema change in this context. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q90. What is the primary purpose of re-embedding on schema change?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Recompute embeddings when model changes.
Recompute embeddings when model changes. is the correct answer here. Avoid mismatched vector spaces. That is exactly the concept behind what is the primary purpose of re-embedding on in this context. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q91. Which statement about re-embedding on schema change is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Recompute embeddings when model changes.
Here, Recompute embeddings when model changes. is the right choice. Avoid mismatched vector spaces. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which statement about re-embedding on schema change is. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q92. How is re-embedding on schema change best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Recompute embeddings when model changes.
In this case, Recompute embeddings when model changes. is correct. Avoid mismatched vector spaces. It fits the requirement in the prompt about how is re-embedding on schema change best characterized. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q93. Which option best describes prompt construction?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Compose retrieved context + question.
The best option here is Compose retrieved context + question.. Be mindful of context window. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which option best describes prompt construction. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q94. What is the primary purpose of prompt construction?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Compose retrieved context + question.
For this question, Compose retrieved context + question. is correct. Be mindful of context window. It fits the requirement in the prompt about what is the primary purpose of prompt construction. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q95. Which statement about prompt construction is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Compose retrieved context + question.
Compose retrieved context + question. is the correct answer here. Be mindful of context window. It fits the requirement in the prompt about which statement about prompt construction is most accurate. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q96. How is prompt construction best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Compose retrieved context + question.
Here, Compose retrieved context + question. is the right choice. Be mindful of context window. This is the most accurate statement for how is prompt construction best characterized. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q97. Which option best describes PII handling in RAG?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes.
In this case, Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes. is correct. Compliance and safety. This is the most accurate statement for which option best describes pii handling in rag. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q98. What is the primary purpose of PII handling in RAG?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes.
The best option here is Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes.. Compliance and safety. This is the most accurate statement for what is the primary purpose of pii handling. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q99. Which statement about PII handling in RAG is most accurate?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes.
For this question, Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes. is correct. Compliance and safety. This is the most accurate statement for which statement about pii handling in rag is. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.
Q100. How is PII handling in RAG best characterized?
Select an answer to check.
Answer: Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes.
Mask/avoid sensitive content in indexes. is the correct answer here. Compliance and safety. This is the most accurate statement for how is pii handling in rag best characterized. The remaining choices fail because they don’t satisfy the full definition.