Any exam requirements you don’t attempt must necessarily score zero. How could it be any other way? This important insight translates into a very simple formula: No answer = no marks. Learning this formula could substantially increase your final marks. You need to know it, because it’s not on any of the formula sheets provided in your exams. Applying the formula means you must always give an answer, even when you aren’t sure. Start doing this now as part of your exam practice.
Before going any further, let’s reassure and remind ourselves how marks are awarded. Q. Do wrong answers get marks deducted? A. No. There is no negative marking. Q. If I make a mistake and get the wrong answer at the start, do I lose all the marks for that question? A. There is no further loss of marks as long as your subsequent method is correct. Q. If I get 80% of the marks for 60% of the paper that I answer, don’t I pass? A. If you work this out, you will only score 80% x 60% = 48% of the marks out of a potential 100%. That would, sadly, be a fail.
This all makes it very smart to guess when you don’t know. Leave any blank spaces and you will simply throw marks away. As the Financial and Management Accounting examiner points out, in most questions some marks can usually be earned very quickly. Guessing has two important benefits:
Despite this simple magic formula, many candidates don’t answer all the required questions. Astonishingly, omitted questions feature every season. With very few exceptions, all questions in all ACT exam papers are compulsory. (Only CertRM, CertCFF and CertCFF (Fast Track) have one optional question each.) Many other scripts in the October 2013 sitting revealed similarly poor exam technique, as illustrated by these extracts from the Examiner’s Reports:
Repeated practice is the essential key to grounding your excellent exam technique. Practising past question papers under exam conditions is your number one insurance policy. Invest enough time and effort now, so that when you take your real exam you will pass with a big safety margin. Practising past question papers will help you answer all parts of all requirements by:
Your likelihood of ultimate success will then rise substantially.
If you find you don’t know how to answer a question, despite all your diligent practice, here are some top tips: 
Multiple-choice questions give you an extra advantage. The correct answer is right in front of you. You only need to identify it. To answer any multiple-choice questions you’re not sure about, use elimination. Cross out the answers you know aren’t right. Then guess or figure out the best answer from the remainder.
You must get off the fence to give an answer. But which is the better of two or more multiple answers if you are not sure?
Only give one answer to each multiple-choice question. You can’t successfully hedge your bets. If you give more than one answer, no credit can ever be given, even if one of your answers is right. Whatever the style or format of the question, always give an answer. Practise that consistently and it will work like magic.
The ACT Learning website hosts suggested study timetables’ and information on exam dates and revision classes. In addition, you can find a range of resource articles to help you develop your behavioural and business skills.
Doug Williamson FCT is an examiner, tutor and coach who enjoys helping you to pass your ACT exams