Cognitive bulimia is a somewhat
scornful term for
multiple choice tests. The implication is that such tests are not
valid representations of what has been learned. A
multiple choice test does not require you to understand a question and formulate your own answer, but merely to recognize the correct answer (often the more vague "
best answer") from a short list, a situation often referred to as
multiple guess.
To do well on a multiple choice exam, you do not need to have fully digested the material, but only to regurgitate the information, perhaps even the exact phrases, being taught. A multiple choice test does not measure how much you've learned, but how much you've memorized and can spit back out. Any test that requires you to provide your own answer, be it fill in the blank or an all out essay, will give a better indication of what you truly know.