Guessing on the SAT and ACT

You may hear outdated advice from an older relative that you should never guess on the SAT or ACT (or that you should only guess if you can eliminate 1 or 2 answers). This advice no longer holds true!

The history of the guessing penalty

On the old SAT, you would lose ¼ point for a wrong answer, get 0 points for a blank, and earn +1 point for a right answer. Using that logic, it made sense to guess if you could eliminate an answer or two, but it wouldn't work to blindly guess. However, this guessing penalty has been removed from the new SAT, and it never existed on the ACT.

Smart guessing strategies

If you truly have no idea, a random guess will give you a 25% chance of guessing right on a multiple-choice question. If you are in danger of running out of time, then it makes sense to guess and flag the question, coming back to it if you have time -- but not wasting time on a tough question before you answer the easier questions (that you have a better chance of getting right).

Common myths

• C is the most common answer -- not true!
• Never change your first answer -- sometimes we've misread a question or misinterpreted a passage. If you realize you've made a mistake, please go ahead and change your answer!
• Answers follow patterns -- don't pay attention to the patterns! If you have 3 As in a row, don't be afraid to choose another A if you think that's the best answer.

The takeaway

Never leave a question blank! A blind guess gives you a 25% chance of earning a point, while a blank space guarantees you nothing. Eliminate what you can, guess strategically, flag questions you want to revisit, and keep moving.