Where success is decided by competition in banking tests, success and failure are separated by an inch. While trying to solve the quantitative aptitude questions along with the reasoning ones, there comes a time when one has to take a crucial decision whether to go for an answer to go for an answer or just leave it blank. Since there is negative marking, every wrong answer is considered against you, it becomes quite a risk for the candidate to attempt any answer, rather than guessing. But if the guessing game could be turned into a strategy, it would provide the candidates a definite edge over others.
In order to guess wisely and increase the accuracy level, it is imperative that one should overcome mere intuition. This article discusses how to maximize your accuracy.
Not only concepts, but a good Bank Coaching program can also train you in using smart guessing techniques that will help you get maximum accuracy without much fear of negative marking.
The philosophy of negative marking: shifting the expected outcomes
Without knowing the consequences of making a guess in advance, the examiner should analyze the true cost of this practice in light of the penalty system. In all major examinations conducted by banks, each wrong objective answer costs a portion of a mark, whereas a right answer gives a full mark.
Logically speaking, when one can safely rule out several alternatives, the final value of guessing will be changed from negative to positive.
Random guessing: if you just pick an option randomly out of all the presented ones, your chances of success will be low. The process of random guessing does not provide any advantage in the long run.
Smart guessing: when one is able to exclude several wrong options, their probability of success increases greatly. In such circumstances, it is highly beneficial to play the odds with the right attitude toward the options left.
Frameworks for smart guessing: turning intuition into logic
This educated guesswork is not an action of desperation, but an analytical game of elimination done in seconds. Below are three advanced models that you should use while taking your examination:
Elimination of the extremely absolute choice
For proportions like general awareness and english language, those options that have absolute words such as always, never, entirely, or completely are more likely to be wrong because in reality, economic and financial policies do not involve any absolutes.
Scale and proximity analysis(quantitative aptitude)
When rushing to the data interpretation and word problem portions, note the magnitude of the options. The questions will often have some trap answers that involve common miscalculations that occur when one fails to perform a single step in a complex mathematical operation. In case most of the options are around the same numerical value, but a few are far from it, either upwards or downwards, it is safe to ignore those few options and consider the rest.
Contextual and syntactic fit (verbal ability)
For reading comprehension and cloze test questions, the correct option has to be syntactically appropriate. Even if you don’t know the meaning of a particular word in the question, you can disregard options that affect the structure of the sentence or change the tone set by the writer, either positive, negative or neutral.
Strategic decisiveness: when to leave vs. when to leap
Exam navigation involves making decisions on the spot based on your confidence levels.
If there is a Blind Alley situation where none of the choices can be eliminated, you must abandon the question immediately. Answering the question at this point results in a lot of volatility in the score, but does not offer any logic. On the other hand, if there is a situation of Dichotomous Choice, where most choices have been eliminated, you must take the risk. There is a high probability of getting the answer right, making the risk quite rewarding.
The circumstances will determine your actions. In case you are in Sectional Cut-off danger, but you have safely passed the threshold of attempts in that section, you must show caution and ensure your accuracy percentages are maintained. In the case of a High-Yield Mains Question where you have taken time to formulate an equation, a guess from your final choices will save your precious time investment
A good SSC Coaching program will make aspirants learn smart guessing techniques so that they can face exams with confidence without fear of negative marking.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, balancing between the good guesswork and the element of negative marking will involve changing your way of thinking. Negative marking is aimed at penalizing ignorance, but more than that, it is supposed to make you risk-averse. The most successful banking candidates do not get a perfect score because they know everything; rather, they excel because they are able to think and calculate risks accurately.
With the help of an elimination approach to the examination questions, you make the examination more of a strategic exercise than just a recitation test. Enter the examination hall with a clear strategic mind.
