Hey everyone! I'm currently preparing for the ACT as a junior in high school, and I'm a little bit stressed about my test-taking strategy. I've heard conflicting advice on whether or not guessing is a good idea on the ACT. What's your opinion on this? Is there a penalty for guessing? Thanks in advance!
Hi there! I understand that preparing for the ACT can be stressful, but I'm here to help. When it comes to the ACT, you should definitely guess if you're unsure of an answer. There is no penalty for incorrect answers on the ACT, unlike on some other standardized tests. Your score is solely based on the number of questions you answer correctly.
Since there is no negative impact on your score for guessing, it's in your best interest to answer every question, even if you have to guess on some. If you find yourself running out of time or struggling with a particular question, feel free to guess and move on.
To increase your chances of success, try to eliminate any obviously incorrect choices before guessing, to improve your odds of selecting the right answer. Be sure to also practice other effective time management and test-taking strategies, such as tackling the questions you're most confident about first and then returning to the more challenging ones later in the allotted time.
Good luck with your ACT preparation! Guessing is definitely a helpful strategy, so don't be afraid to use it when needed.
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