Hey there! I recently heard that leaving questions unanswered on the SAT could lead to a loss of points on the test, and I want to know if that's true or not. Can someone please clarify this for me?
Hi! The SAT does not have a penalty for guessing or leaving questions unanswered. The scoring system is based solely on the number of correct answers you provide, and incorrect or unanswered questions do not result in any points being deducted from your total score.
Given that there's no penalty for guessing, it's a good strategy to attempt every question on the test, even if you're unsure of the answer. If you find yourself running out of time or encountering particularly difficult questions, it's better to make an educated guess than to leave those questions blank. Narrowing down answer choices and eliminating clearly incorrect options can also improve your chances of guessing correctly. Remember that every correct answer increases your overall score, so try to attempt all of the questions within the time limit.
Good luck on your SAT!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.