Test Taking Strategy: Educated Guess

Educated Guessing.

Read the entire question and make an educated guess – Use the process of elimination.

Read the entire question thoroughly to ensure that you have not missed key words like “except” or “or”, etc.  Questions you are uncertain about make educated guesses.  A rule of thumb to remember: “always”, “only”, and “never” are often times incorrect answers – but not always.

Exams are also notorious for containing “distracters”.  Distracters are questions, answers, and/or words you have never seen before, that confuse you.  These distracters have been intentionally added to confuse the test-taker.  Note, distracters are often assumed as the answers. Under pressure and anxiety, you might choose the incorrect answer.  Remain calm, focused and use the process of elimination to remove incorrect answers and distracters.

When you question the answer, use deductive reasoning to find the right answer.  Read the question carefully.  In most questions, you will find  key words that connects to the right possible answer.

Another strategy is to use the process of elimination by recognizing distractors and simply wrong answers.  In most cases you can eliminate two incorrect answers.  This will increase your chances of guessing the right answer.  Trust your first instinct.  You “know” the right answer before you consciously recognize the answer.

How does “Educated Guessing” work in “life”?  Often times when we are working on a hunch or have a feeling that this is right or wrong, this reasoning is based on an educated guess.  Our thinking leads us to think a certain way because of the assessment we make on the whole situation.  In writing this blog, I guess that our life can be seen as a series of educated guesses.  Eliminating what is not right and moving towards what we believe is right. We make guesses based on our own perceptions.

An educated guess is basically an assessment of recognition.  Recognizing what belongs, OR what does not.

There are usually clues that lead us to the right answer.  Often times it depends on whether we are conscious or unconscious to our surroundings and “life”.  All of the life strategies discussed here are a practice.  I must admit: I may not always follow these strategies and  sometimes I get caught up in my own stuff.  When I sense something is wrong, a sign shows up and leads me to a certain answer in life, I may not of been aware of.  Making “educated guesses” helps me live a more conscious life.

Remember be present, pay attention, eliminate what is not right by practice, and the answer often times is right in front of you.

Best wishes!