This study was to compare the processes that second language learners implemented when completing reading tasks in a multiple-choice question format (MCQ) with those in a short-answer question format (SAQ). Sixteen nonnative English-speaking students from a large Midwestern college in the United States were invited to complete MCQ and SAQ English reading tasks and then to engage in retrospective verbal reporting and semi-structured interviews. Results showed that when processing information in the source texts, students constructed text and situation models to (a) obtain a general understanding of the texts and (b) deepen their textual understanding. As students answered the comprehension questions, their question-answering processes were informed by the test format itself. Moreover, students employed different styles of interactive processing depending on whether they were completing MCQ or SAQ tasks. The implications of the study encourage test developers and teachers to implement a variety of test formats when possible.