Understanding the -0.25 penalty and when to guess vs skip. Mathematical strategies to maximize your score even with negative marking.
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Most admission tests have a -0.25 negative marking for wrong answers.
The Math
If you guess 4 questions completely blindly, probability says you'll get 1 right (+1) and 3 wrong (-0.75), netting you +0.25. However, blind guessing is risky.
When to Guess
- Eliminate 2 Options: If you can confidently eliminate 2 out of 4 options, you MUST guess. The expected value is highly positive.
- Eliminate 1 Option: It is still statistically favorable to guess.
- Complete Guess: Avoid. It usually hurts your rank.
Strategy
1. First pass: Answer only 100% sure questions.
2. Second pass: Attempt questions where you can eliminate options.
3. Leave the complete unknowns blank.