Is your first answer on a test usually right?

It turns out that people tend to stick with their first answers – a phenomenon that is called the first instinct fallacy (1). Now, given that this is labelled a fallacy already tells you what the better choice would have been: Revising your first answers!

Is your first guess usually right?

With Leonard Chen, I looked into this question, and we found that first guesses were better than second guesses (Krueger & Chen, 2014). No first-instinct fallacy there. But the second guesses were not useless either. When first and second guesses are averaged, the result is often more accurate than either guess alone.

Is C usually the correct answer?

Myth 2: C is the best guess letter and is right more often than any other letter. C or H are right (and wrong) as often as any other answer choice. The only guess letter you don't want to use when you are completely guessing is E or K because they only show up on the math test.

Should you always go with your first answer?

But are first instincts always the best? Psychological research has shown many times that no, they are often no better – any in many cases worse – than a revision or change. Despite enormous popular belief that first instincts are special, dozens of experiments have found that they are not.

Should you go with your first instinct on a test?

Study after study shows that when you change your answer in a multiple-choice test, you are more likely to be changing it from wrong to right than right to wrong. So actually sticking with your first answer is, on average, the wrong strategy.

5 Rules (and One Secret Weapon) for Acing Multiple Choice Tests

How do I know if it's my instinct?

Many people have referred to intuition as a “sixth sense.” Like your other five senses, intuition can cause physical signs in your body as follows: You may have tension in your body or have a gnawing thought that won't go away. You feel like you have a pit in your stomach.

Should I always trust your gut instinct?

Trusting your gut can be useful when making some decisions, but it isn't the best go-to for all situations. And determining which moments are good times to trust your gut isn't a one-size-fits-all process. It requires self-awareness.

Should you do the hard questions first?

Answer the easy questions first. This will give you the confidence and momentum to get through the rest of the test. Express difficult questions in your own words. Rephrasing can make it clear to you, but be sure you don't change the meaning of the question.

Which answer should you eliminate first?

Eliminate answer options which you're 100 percent sure are incorrect before selecting the answer you believe is correct. Even when you believe you know the right answer, first eliminating those answers you know are incorrect will ensure your answer choice is the correct choice.

What should you do if you feel yourself starting to go blank while taking a test?

Should I guess B or C?

The truth is that it doesn't matter which letter you pick, only that you stick to the one you choose. The best strategy, and the one that will maximize your overall point gain, is to pick your favorite letter and fill it in for every blind guess.

How can I be good at guessing?

Guessing Strategies

Use the wording of the question or answer as a clue to eliminate possibilities. Choose the most precise answer. Avoid answers that seem out of context. Choose a numerical answer from the middle of the range, not from either extreme.

Is the longest answer usually correct?

This trick isn't always reliable, but it can help when you're stuck. Multiple-choice questions may have an obvious correct answer; sometimes, it's the longest choice. Teachers tend to explain the answer more fully and in detail, so choosing the longer one may give you a better chance of getting it right.

Should you second guess on a test?

Second guessing:

If you work through the exam calmly and methodically, you can avoid second guessing yourself. Once you have committed to an answer, don't go back and change it unless you can identify a good reason to reject your original selection.

Is it better to guess True or false?

a) Usually there are more true answers than false on most tests. b) If there is no guessing penalty, then guess. You have a 50% chance of getting the right answer.

When should you guess an answer?

You should guess when you don't know the answer, when you're running out of time, or when the question is going to take way more time than it's worth. We're going to help you guess strategically so that you can maximize your points—even when you don't have all the answers.

What is the most common answer?

I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.

Which answers should you eliminate?

Don't eliminate an answer unless you know what every word means. If two answers are similar, it's probably neither. If two answers are opposite, one is probably correct. The answer is usually wrong if it contains the words all, always, never, or none.

How to pass a multiple choice test without knowing anything?

Answer all the questions

Don't waste your time on a question if you don't know what the answer is. Skip the question and come back to it later. Give your brain more time to think about that question as you tackle other problems. Even if you don't know an answer, make an educated guess.

What is test anxiety?

Test anxiety is that nervous feeling you may get when you're about to take a test. It's normal to feel some pressure before an exam, and a little stress can actually help you focus and do better. But for some people, the worries are so strong that they can't concentrate and don't do as well they'd like.

How do you sit in an exam?

Can your intuition be wrong?

While instinct coupled with analysis may make a powerful decision-making combination, beware intuition's pitfalls. Often, your gut is just plain wrong—because it's subject to biases.

How do you know if it's your intuition or overthinking?

Anxiety will often present as a thought that frantically repeats itself, whereas intuition presents as a calm knowing. With anxiety there are often fearful and ruminating thoughts that may feel difficult to dismiss. Anxious thoughts can make us question ourselves over and over. Intuition presents as a calm knowing.

Is intuition a gift from God?

Intuition is a gift from God. But any gift can be abused by using it in the flesh instead of in the Spirit. As we progress in our walk with Jesus, we become more attuned to his heart for others. We also grow in our ability to perceive when others might have impure motives.