<p>When taking the SSAT's is it better to completely omit a question that you dont know the answer to, or is it better to take a guess at it?</p>
<p>because of the way it's scored, it's better to guess if you can eliminate even one answer as clearly wrong</p>
<p>I try not to omit any answers. I usually fill an answer in with a guess, and it seems to work for me. I recommend not skipping them. I've never skipped an answer on a standardized test unless I don't finish (like on the SAT), but I actually found that after getting my SSAT scores back, I omitted an answer without realizing it.</p>
<p>Actually if you cant rule out two or more answers then dont guess, each time you get a question wrong you lose 1/4 point, which can add up</p>
<p>I agree with Olivia567. You shouldn't take a random guess, of course, but I think if you can eliminate at least two answer choices then you should guess. all you really have to do is choose which answer choice you think is best. it's better than omitting several answers, at least.</p>
<p>preptobismol - - it's true - they will add up, and you shouldn't really guess, but then again, think of the points that you can gain just from getting a right answer.</p>
<p>The teachers at my children's school tell them to leave it blank as it counts against them if they get it wrong, but not it they leave it blank (whish is what prepto said).</p>
<p>Actually, there's a 1/4 point deduction for incorrect answers. No deduction for blanks. With 5 possible choices, you shouldn't guess...the cost is too great. If you've eliminated 1 answer, the odds are even. Eliminate 2 or 3 and -- statistically speaking -- it's worth the guess. Eliminate 4 and you've got yourself a point!</p>
<p>If the odds are with you and you guess a couple correctly and miss a couple. You're up 1.5 points. The whole points add up a lot faster than the 1/4 point penalties.</p>
<p>That is not naive in a good way Olivia. It's harmful to answer when you really don't know the answer. As explained above wrong answers do count against you.</p>