Did You Know...?

...that if you leave answers blank on the SATs you will have a better chance of getting a higher score on the exam than if you guessed on every single question?

(Introductory Paragraph)

My name is Ms. Saint-Preux and I am here to convince you that when taking the SAT it is better to either eliminate at least one answer choice and then guess, rather than guessing on each question.

(Background Information)

The SAT is a standardized exam that primarily 11th graders must take in order to fulfill the requirements for attending a 4-year college and/or university. It used to be out of a score of 1600, but recently it has been changed to a total score of 2400. It includes a Math, Writing and Critical Reading section. The entire test takes about 3 -4 hours to complete. 

The SAT penalizes the test taker for guessing. If you get one question correct, you receive one point. If you leave a question blank, you get 0 points--in other words nothing happens to your score. But if you get a question wrong, you get 1/4 of a point off. For example, if you answer 3 questions, and you guess on 2 of them and get them wrong, you receive .5 points. Yet, if you leave two questions blank, and get one right, you receive and remain with 1 point! In addition, if you can eliminate at least one question from the four multiple choice, you increase your chance of getting the right answer from 25% to 50%. 

(Steps/Calculations)