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Entrance exams are a common part of admission to most courses, and MCQs are an important aspect in almost all of them. Whether it is a national entrance exam like CLAT, CUET or state level exams like MH CET Law , UP B.Ed JEE, TS LAWCET , etc, multiple choice questions are a part of all major entrance tests. Certainly, studying well and knowing the subjects deeply are important but also crucial is your skill to guess intelligently when you don't know the answer for sure as this could make quite an impact on your final score.

Guessing MCQ correctly in entrance exams is not just about luck, as many believe. There are strategies and methods that can improve your chances of picking the correct option even if you are unsure about a particular answer. This incisive article will help you understand how to make educated guesses work in your favour and enhance your performance on entrance exams based on multiple choice questions (MCQs). These MCQ guessing strategies can be used in any of the entrance exams after class 12 .

Also Read: 7 Smart Tips to Solve Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in NEET 2024

Understanding the MCQ Format

Before we look at these strategies for guessing, let us first understand the basic setup and features of multiple-choice questions. Usually, an MCQ has a stem - this is the question or problem statement - and it also includes some options that you need to select from. Among these choices, there will be one correct answer but the rest are distractors.

The quantity of choices fluctuates, but a typical pattern is having four or five options. Exams that apply negative marking and penalise wrong answers may include more alternatives to dissuade random guessing. Knowing these characteristics could give a helpful understanding of how to tackle MCQ style tests.

How to Guess MCQ Correctly?

Here are some effective strategies to help you guess multiple-choice questions (MCQs) correctly during your entrance exam:

Frequency of Occurrence Strategy

If you keep seeing some answer choices pop up, pick them. Sometimes, test makers use the same concepts and the same vocabulary.

Root and Prefix Clues

You can learn some common prefixes such as dis-, im-, and un- They help you get rid of the wrong answers by knowing what they mean.

Eliminate Extremes

In case of numerical options, steer clear from highest and lowest values. The correct answer  usually lies somewhere in the middle range.

Similar Choice Strategy

Choose the slightly different option from two similar options. This is usually the correct answer.

Opposite Choice Strategy

Sometimes there is only one correct answer when faced with two extreme options. For questions that ask for the opposite of something this works well.

Umbrella Option Strategy

Try an option which excludes other options. This broader solution is almost always the correct one.

Avoid Absolutes

Avoid comments such as always or never. In real life these terms are usually inaccurate.

Most Different Answer or Exception

Find a unique choice. The odd one out may be the correct answer.

Longest Answer Strategy

The usual correct answer is often the longest answer. The right answers are more explanatory so that the test makers can provide more information.

Key Word Strategy

Pick answers with the key words from the question. It’s a strong signal that the answer you automatically selected is correct.

Grammatical Correctness

You get rid of answers that don't grammatically fit into the question's context. Whatever you choose should fit in suitably in the sentence.

All of the Above; or None of the Above

When given options like “all of the above” or “none of the above”, “all of the above” is pretty often right. This is meant to test your understanding of other choices.

How to Apply MCQ Guessing Strategies Effectively?

Follow the tips mentioned below to properly apply MCQ guessing strategies:

• Read the Question Carefully: Do not rush to answer the question before you have read it carefully and understood what it wants you to do. If a student misunderstands a specific question they are likely to guess wrong.
• Eliminate Clearly Incorrect Options: Whittle down the options and eliminate the choices that are perceived as wrong or irrelevant. This helps in eliminating what you have to choose from to make the best decision.
• Apply Relevant Guessing Strategies: In the process of guessing, depending on the nature of the question and the offered options, the best strategy must be used to eliminate as many options as possible.
• Use the Process of Elimination: If you are still confused, try using what is left as the answer after crossing out the options that cannot be right.
• Manage Time Wisely: Don’t forget to schedule time well. Focus on questions that you know you can answer and dedicate any remaining time that you have to guess the questions that may be difficult.

Guessing MCQ Tricks for Exams with Negative Marking

Many entrance exams that are conducted for college admission have negative marking for wrong answers. In such cases, the guessing strategies have to be used more judiciously since random guessing will prove costly to your overall score.

If you are attending an exam that has negative marking then you may focus on the following tips:

• Eliminate Incorrect Options: First, as in previous problems, one should cross out the choices that are unquestionably incorrect.
• Apply Logical Reasoning: If you are not sure, make an educated guess using the information you have gathered in your chosen subject and think through the logical conclusion as to what is the correct answer.
• Avoid Guessing if Unsure: If a student has no proper grounds to lean on and genuinely cannot distinguish between two possible answers, it is rather wise not to answer than to guess and consequently lose points.

Developing a Mindset to Guess MCQ Correctly

The most appropriate attitude for guessing on MCQ based exams is to adopt specific strategies that can be applied effectively. Here are a couple of things to consider when you are using guesswork to choose an MCQ correctly:

• Embrace Uncertainty: Accept the fact that it is normal not to know much for the simple reason that it is an exam and exams have questions that you may not have come across before. Games of guessing should not be looked at as one’s shortcomings or a sign of weakness but rather a chance for one to apply knowledge and skills.
• Practice Consistently: The more frequently you encounter sample MCQ questions and practice varied guessing techniques, the more of an expert you will become at this method.
• Stay Calm and Focused: Pressure can increase the likelihood of making outright guess work that is likely to see the test taker make random choices. Be relaxed and concentrate fully throughout the test to get the best results with your guessing strategies.
• Combine Guessing with Logical Reasoning: Using guess as the only option is considered wrong. Combine it with your knowledge of the subject matter and analytical ability in order to optimise your performance.
• Learn from Mistakes: Devise a plan for reviewing your guessing after the exam and find out the potential ways to enhance it. You can then apply this information in order to improve your tactics for subsequent tests.

Solve MCQ through Contextual Cues

When working with multiple choice questions (MCQs) you can increase your accuracy using contextual cues. Such cues exist inside the question or answer choices. They lead you to the right answer and this is how you can use these cues to maximum effect.

Read the Question Carefully

Read the question first and scout keywords which show what is being asked. If the question requires you to find 'the main idea,' focus on options that clearly entail the summary of the main idea present in the MCQ question.


Identify Keywords and Phrases

Look for important keywords in both question and answer choices. Often, these words mention the central point. Say, if the question is about photosynthesis, choose your possible answer based on this process.


Get rid of obvious wrong answers

Get rid of clear incorrect answers using contextual clues. If a choice doesn’t conform with what you know, discard it right away. For instance, if you’ve got a question about plant growth and one option says 'darkness', then that option is probably wrong.

Find Synonyms related words and phrases

Most often, contextual cues are synonyms or related terms. If there happens to be a question using "habitat" look out for the answer choice containing "environment" or "ecosystem." When you see these connections, you’ll know the right one.

Reading Answer Choices for Context

In each case, look at answer choices in context with the question. Think about how well the option fits as per what is asked in the MCQ. Say, for example, talking about climate change and an answer that contemplates 'carbon emissions' will make sense.

Use Process of Elimination

Systematically apply the process of elimination. Contextual understanding will help you narrow down your choices. In case of two plausibilities, you directly compare one against another with the help of context clues.

Pay Attention to Qualifiers

Qualifiers like “always,” “never”, “most,” “least” because these words turn out to change the meaning greatly. Take for example, if you say, most plants need sunlight, that’s far more true than if you just say, all plants need sunlight.

Look for Patterns in Questions

Some questions are patterned and have a theme. If previous questions pertain to one particular topic, expect the following questions to be the same. By doing this you can also guess at possible answers according to context.

Practice with Sample Questions

Practicing with sample MCQs helps you become better at detecting contextual cues. Take practice tests, which will help you become used to different topics and the styles of questions. It helps increase your confidence and improve your skills.

Review Your Answers

Once you have answered, reconsider your answers taking into consideration context clues. Be certain to choose your answers which match the question's intent as well as the context. And that last review of yours is supposed to catch any mistakes.

How to Memorise MCQs?

Here are some techniques and methods to memorise MCQs for any entrance exam:

• Use active and engaging ways to memorise multiple choice questions. First break the questions down into pieces that can be easily handled and understood.
• Instead of rote memorization, work on understanding core concepts behind each question and so on. Suppose a question relates to the reasons behind World War I, you’ll summarize the big events that brought the war.
• Write down each question and answer pair as flashcards. Ask the question on one side and write the answer on the other. This gives you a quick test on your knowledge. Say, "What is the capital of France?" Reverse the flashcard and write "Paris."
• You can also use the mnemonic device to enhance memory. Make acronyms or memorable phrases from the answers. To remember that Earth, Mercury, Venus and Mars are terrestrial planets, make a sentence like: My Very Educated Mother. The idea here is to make that information more relatable and easier to get your hands on.
• Include visualising techniques. Suppose that each question is a character and each answer is an action it takes. As an example, what if a character named "Mercury" races by "Venus" and "Earth"? Using this narrative approach, cements the correct answers in your memory.
• Review questions at increasing intervals in order to practice spaced repetition. Today, study a set of questions, revisit in two days, revisit again in a week. This method makes memory retention over time.
• Take practice quizzes like a memory enhancing game. You could test your knowledge in a playful way using online platforms such as Quizlet, Kahoot. It also builds confidence, and helps reinforce learning.
• Group similar questions together when you are studying. Take, for instance, all geography-related questions and cluster them in one session and all history-related questions in another. It is this categorization that will help you organise your thoughts, plus it is more likely to help you recall later because of the sensory details included.
• Consider finally getting enough sleep before exams. Memory consolidation is dependent on sleep. Memorise your flashcards just before bed to improve retention when you sleep.

By practising these techniques continually you will become better at learning and memorising MCQs and will achieve better results in exams.

Also Read: MCQ-Based Questions in Entrance Exams

Guessing about MCQs involves thinking through the question and its answer options. For starters, get rid of answers you know are not right. If you have no idea, pick the longest or most detailed answer. Don't pick answers that are too extreme or absolute. If two choices appear similar, choose the one that gives more details. If you can remove 2-3 answers, guessing correctly becomes much more likely. Smart guessing can help you improve your score, but it is better to use it as a final strategy. The main plan must be to study effectively and master the content so that you can answer MCQs correctly without relying on guesswork.

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