How to Pick Which Questions to Skip in a Mock Test

Every exam includes questions that are not worth their time. The candidates who score highest are often the ones who identify them quickly.

The ten-second scan

Read the question and ask: do I recognise the type, and can I see the first step? If yes, attempt it. If not, flag it and move on without more than ten seconds.

A time ceiling

Set a maximum, such as 90 seconds for most questions. If you cross it without a clear path, stop and flag the question. Sunk time is not a reason to continue.

Second-pass rule

After the first pass, return to flagged questions in order of how close you felt to a solution, not by question number. Questions where you were halfway are the best use of leftover time.

Check your skips afterwards

In the review, re-attempt each skipped question without a clock. If you find you could have solved most of them, your threshold is too cautious; if you could solve few, it is about right. This feedback calibrates your instincts over several mocks.

When there is a penalty

If wrong answers cost marks, skip questions where you cannot eliminate options with reasoning. The numbers behind this are explained in our negative marking guide and in accuracy vs attempts. You can practise skipping on any of our practice tests.