Should you guess on the PSAT, ACT, or SAT?
If you’ve ever taken a standardized test—like the SAT, ACT, or PSAT—you’ve probably encountered some questions that you didn’t know how to answer. When this happens, you should always guess, even if you have no idea which choice is correct.
The previous version of the SAT had what’s known as a “guessing penalty,” meaning points were deducted for any incorrect answer. However, on the tests you’ll take today you do not lose any points for wrong answers, so you should bubble in a response to every question.
[ Read Next: Top PSAT Tips and Strategies ]
PSAT, ACT, and SAT Guessing Strategies
Guessing on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT does two things: it increases your odds of getting a correct answer, and it makes strategic use of your time by letting you focus your energy (and time) on questions that you know how to do.
That said, there are ways to guess strategically. To help you make the most out of your guesses, consider these test-day tips:
SHOULD YOU GUESS ON THE SAT?: SUGGESTED TIMING
The SAT is 3 hours and 15 minutes long, not counting the optional essay, which will add an additional 50 minutes to the total testing time, including breaks.
Earning a good SAT score is a huge accomplishment. The exam requires you to be an efficient test-taker who understands how to maximize your score by using guessing strategies when needed–and not get hung up on difficult questions that will run out the clock.
Here is the timing breakdown for each section of the SAT, including the maximum amount of time you should spend per question. If you sense you are taking more than the allotted time for any single question, guess and move on.
| Section | Number of Questions | Total Time | Time Per Question |
| Reading (5 passage sets) | 52 multiple-choice questions | 65 minutes | 13 minutes per passage. Spend 5 minutes reading each passage and about 46 seconds per question |
| Writing and Language | 44 multiple-choice items | 35 minutes | 48 seconds per item |
| Math | 58 items: 45 multiple-choice & 13 fill-in | 80 minutes | 1 minute, 22 seconds per item |
SHOULD YOU GUESS ON THE ACT?: SUGGESTED TIMING
The ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes long—with breaks it runs 3 hours and 30 minutes. The ACT Plus Writing is 3 hours and 40 minutes long and just over 40 minutes including breaks.
Here is the timing breakdown for each section of the ACT, including the maximum amount of time you should spend per question. If you sense you are taking more than the allotted time for any single question, guess and move on.
| Section | Number of Questions | Total Time | Time Per Question |
| English | 75 multiple-choice questions | 45 minutes | 36 seconds per question |
| Math | 60 multiple-choice questions | 60 minutes | 1 minute per question |
| Reading (4 passages) | 40 multiple-choice questions | 35 minutes | 8 minutes and 45 seconds per passage. Spend no more than 4 minutes reading each question and about 30 seconds per question. |
| Science | 40 multiple-choice questions | 35 minutes | 52 seconds per question |
SHOULD YOU GUESS ON THE PSAT?: SUGGESTED TIMING
The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long.
Here is the timing breakdown for each section of the PSAT, including the maximum amount of time you should spend per question. If you sense you are taking more than the allotted time for any single question, guess and move on.
| Section | Number of Questions | Total Time | Time Per Question |
| Reading (5 passage sets) | 47 questions | 60 minutes | 12 minutes per passage. Spend 5 minutes reading each passage and about 45 seconds per question. |
| Writing and Language | 44 items | 35 minutes | 47 seconds per item |
| Math | 48 questions | 70 minutes | 1 minute, 27 seconds per item |
