The 2-Pass Method: Never Solve Sequentially from 1 to 100
The biggest tactical error made by novices is attempting to solve questions in rigid sequential order (1, 2, 3... 100). Examiners intentionally plant time-sink questions in the first 10 questions to break your momentum and induce timer anxiety.
Execute the 2-Pass Method: In Pass 1, solve ONLY immediate 'low-hanging fruit'—questions you know with 100% certainty that require under 35 seconds. Mark calculation-heavy questions for Review. Skip unknown questions completely.
In Pass 2, tackle your marked questions with the remaining time, having already secured 50-60 marks in the bag.
The 2-Pass Method ensures you never leave an easy 15-second question unread at the end of the test paper.
Calculated Skipping: The Mark of a Pro
Skipping a question is not an admission of failure; it is an active resource reallocation decision. Spending 3 minutes to solve a complex geometry puzzle earns you 2 marks, but costs you the opportunity to solve four 30-second reasoning questions worth 8 marks.
- If an arithmetic question does not yield a clear equation within 15 seconds, skip immediately.
- If a number series pattern does not click after taking first and second differences, mark for review and move on.
- Never engage your ego: 'I studied this topic for 40 hours, so I must solve it.' The computer does not reward pride.
Negative Marking Arithmetic: When to Guess
Blind guessing (1 out of 4 options) has a negative expected value (-0.50 marks for +2.0 marks = -0.125 EV). Never blind guess. However, if you can decisively eliminate 2 out of 4 options, your expected value is positive (+2 × 0.5 - 0.5 × 0.5 = +0.75 EV). In that scenario, taking the calculated educated risk is mathematically optimal.