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Home / SAT Exam / Should You Guess On SAT & ACT?

Should You Guess On SAT & ACT? Check Guessing Penalty!

Last Updated on Jun 17, 2025

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One of the questions in many students' minds is "Should You Guess On SAT & ACT" The answer is "yes." Guessing correctly works in your favor on standard tests, such as the SAT and ACT. Unlike earlier versions of the SAT, which penalized for wrong answers ("SAT guessing penalty"), there is no longer any point deduction for incorrect responses.

Guessing is especially helpful when you're running short on time or when faced with a tough question. By bubbling in an answer for every question, you're given the chance to score points you may have otherwise missed. That said, it's great to make an educated guess based on the choices, but if you're running out of time, fill it in. Remember, an unanswered question is guaranteed zero points, but a guess may be correct. When in doubt—guess and move on!

 Know the SAT Syllabus here!

Did You Know Facts about Should You Guess on SAT & ACT?

  • There's no penalty for wrong answers, so guessing is always better than leaving a question blank.
  • Removing one or two wrong choices increases your chances of guessing the correct answer.
  • Math figures are usually drawn to scale, so you can make estimates and rule out implausible answers.
  • Extreme language in reading and verbose answers in English are typically wrong.
  • Guessing saves time, ensuring that you answer all the questions before time runs out.

Should You Guess On SAT and ACT? Tricks to Follow

Your odds of guessing the correct answer would increase considerably if you apply the right techniques and move subject wise to figure out the guessing game. So, when should you guess on SAT & ACT? Often, the best plan when you don't know how to solve a question, or when you don't have time to work it through completely but feel comfortable enough to do more than guess blindly, is to try to eliminate one or two of the answer choices. And the great news is that there are many ways to eliminate answer choices. Find out below how for each subject, you can use a strategy to improve your guessing on the exam.

Section

Strategy

Math

Eliminate answers that don’t fit (e.g., even numbers when the value must be odd). 

Use drawn-to-scale figures for estimates of lengths, angles, or areas to rule out unlikely options.

Science

Identify pairs of direct opposites in answer choices—one is often correct. 

Eliminate options that don’t emphasize key distinctions or principles tested.

Reading

Avoid extreme language (e.g., “all,” “none,” “every”) and overly general answers.

Read the passage and question carefully before checking the options for the best fit.

English/Writing

Eliminate interchangeable options (e.g., “therefore” and “consequently”). 

Prefer concise answers and formal expressions. 

“DELETE” is often correct when listed as a choice.

Also Read- ACT Practice Questions

Is There a SAT Guessing Penalty? 

For decades, the SAT implemented the guessing penalty. Students lost a quarter of a point for every wrong answer. As a result, guessing was a policy not to be followed; instead, students avoided it for fear that it might hurt their scores. Then, in 2016, the College Board dropped the SAT guessing penalty. The new digital format of the SAT looks much like the ACT, which never penalized wrong answers.

Today, guessing on either test has no adverse effect on your score, but many students and parents still remember the old penalty and are therefore reluctant to guess. This hesitation can deny students important points that would enhance their scores.

Attempt the SAT Practice Test to Improve your SAT Scores! 

Ace your SAT Preparation with 20+ free mock tests, section-wise practice tests for EBRW and Maths designed to match the latest SAT format.

So, should you guess on the SAT? Or should you guess in the ACT? Absolutely! Since there is no penalty for wrong answers, guessing is a good strategy—especially when paired with good elimination techniques. Even if you are unsure of the correct response, an educated guess means you won't leave points on the table.

Get to know When You Should Take the SAT?

When to Guess on the SAT and ACT?

Ask yourself, "Can I answer this quickly and accurately?" before you answer any question on the SAT or ACT. If so, give a thoughtful response. If not, put it away for later. If the response is "no," respond as soon as possible because time may run out and you won't have another chance to get that point. Since there is no penalty for giving the wrong answer on either test, make smart guesses, particularly if you can cross out possibilities. To improve your score, give priority to guessing on questions you are reasonably certain about and make efficient use of your time. 

Conclusion

The last thing to note about the SAT and ACT is that in many ways, guessing on these tests can actually determine your actual score. Even as you want to make sure you answer as many questions as possible, sometimes an educated guess is a good idea when you're not sure of the answer. Remember there is no penalty for an incorrect answer on the SAT, so it is well worth making a guess on every question where you can eliminate one or more of the choices. For the ACT, guessing is allowed, but since the wrong guesses can penalize your grade, it is much smarter to be a little more careful. In the final analysis, knowledge of test formats and judicious guess-taking strategies can only benefit your performance and yield the grades you desire.

Latest SAT Exam Updates

Last updated on Jun 17, 2025

-> The next SAT 2025 Exam is going to be held on June 7, 2025. The Regular Registration Deadline for the same has ended on May 22, 2025 and the late registration deadline ended May 27, 2025. 

-> According to the SAT Exam Schedule, the next fall semester SAT after the June exam is on August 23, 2025.

-> Top US Universities use SAT Scores to measure a student’s preparedness for college-level studies in a consistent and standardized way.

-> The candidates can attempt the SAT Practice Tests by Testbook that offers a suite of solutions for high schoolers who want to improve their SAT score above 1400.

Should You Guess the SAT & ACT? FAQs

Yes, it’s generally better to guess rather than leave a question blank. Both tests do not penalize for incorrect answers, so guessing gives you a chance to earn points.
Guessing can potentially increase your score since there’s no penalty for wrong answers. If you can eliminate one or two answer choices, your odds of guessing correctly improve.
Look for clues in the question and answer choices, eliminate obviously incorrect options, and make an educated guess based on your knowledge and reasoning.
While guessing can be beneficial, focus on questions you can eliminate answers from first. If you are completely unsure and running out of time, it’s better to guess than leave it blank.
Practice taking full-length tests under timed conditions to familiarize yourself with the question types and develop a strategy for making educated guesses based on patterns and clues you notice.