Page 1 of 2: FAQ: What is the Ideal number of questions to attempt?

Bruno · Credits: 43424 My Scrapbook My Reading List 50 Books

How many questions to attempt?
One of the most often asked queries regarding any PG Entrance Exam is “How much to attempt” in this exam

There are two types of Entrance Exams. In the first type, you don’t have negative marks and in the second type you have negative marks for wrong answers. There should not be any dilemma as to the number of questions you have to attempt in a paper that has no negative marks for wrong answer. You have to attempt ALL the questions. It is so simple!!!.

8)

The question actually arises in exams where there is negative marks.

First of all, I would like to tell you that there is no single answer that can be told for this seemingly innocuous question. The number varies depending on the nature of the Exam, the quality of that specific question paper and the nature of the candidate (how good he or she is at guessing) the preparation of the candidate and more importantly the distribution of the question and the candidates overall depth of knowledge in that particular topic

Let us see one by one

The Nature of Exam

AIIMS

The quality of the question paper
Needless to say if the question paper is very tough and the questions are from exotic topics (like the commonest variation of arch of aorta) it is better to stay back than attract negative marks

Nature of the candidate

How good you are at guessing can be easily found out if you take mock tests while you are preparing. Just evaluate how many percent of your guesses turn right and whether you get a “net profit”. For example in AIPG or TNPG, if you able to guess 10 question and get 3 (or more) correct, then you are a good guesser. Where as in AIIMS you have to get 4 (or more) correct to ensure that you don’t loose your hard earned marks

Preparation of the candidate

Reservation

Distribution of the questions

This is the MOST important criteria.
A question paper will be never homogenous
There will be easy questions from few topics and very difficult questions from few others. In case you are able to attempt the very difficult questions, you can go forward. This typically occurs when the questions are extremely difficult in one (subjects like ENT , Anesthesia, Psychiatry ) and the candidate has previously done or discontinued a diploma (or a master degree)
Remember that subjects like Medicine Surgery will be difficult or easy for everyone and will not be rank deciders

Overall depth of knowledge

In case you have a profound knowledge in subjects like Biochemistry , Anatomy or topics like Acid-Base and Electrolyte balance, Genetics etc and the questions are tough in those areas you can attempt more

Where you should not guess??

However there are few areas where you should avoid guessing if you don’t know the actual and correct fact
Pediatrics will more often than not turn into a Waterloo if you surge forward without adequate reserves
If questions look too tough in Ophthalmology or Community Medicine, don’t worry. Simply leave those questions. If will be tough for every one. A drug that is new to you will be a new drug to [snip] % of the aspirants
However tempting it be, don’t guess on questions related to Clinical Examination. Until you are very sure (you can be very sure only if you have prepared specifically) don’t guess in questions regarding types of Pulse or JVP, clinical signs on Surgery. Though the answer may appear familiar to you (it will be familiar because you would have definitely heard those terms in your Clinical postings during under graduation) you may get those wrong very easily

To conclude

All the best for your efforts !!!

viner_nig · Credits: 1413 My Scrapbook

thankyou bruno sir for an elaborat statement.
i stil am of firm belief that 1 should attempt 100% of questions in all exams.

this i snot a theory we have found this out after attemting many mock and real question papers , me and my frnds.

will tell u a simple experiment, told to me by my school teacher in class 10th.

take any paper and attempt as many questions u know and calculate the marks.
now just see which choice is occuring the most and mark all blank questions as that (i.e a) and again calculate your marks.
you will always end up with a higher score.
and if instead of just marking 1 choice u take "intelligent guesses"
the chances of scoring more marks increase.

caution- its true only for exams with 25% or less megative marking.

Bruno · Credits: 43424 My Scrapbook My Reading List 50 Books

ninakanth · Credits: 108 My Scrapbook

i just found your post and i think you are bsolutely right...there are some questions that seems so simle if they were in the ward but not so when you have to pick the best choice of four.
will definately keep in mind
thanks!

sgtkuks · Credits: 4061 My Scrapbook

I appreciate ur views guys but i seriously think that 25% of the total questions in any damn multiple choice exam can be left easily...........bcos each exam has around 25% questions from unsung and unheard topics.........but 75% of the rest is wat one shud b targetting always........they bring u in the top 500 list of AIPGE .........i m a firm believer of this funda!!!! If anyone has to put an exam he will always put majority questions from the well known topics and only few to bangh ur weirdest imagination......but the key to the examiners success is that he knows where the weakness of the candidates is!!!!!!

papapandu · Credits: 1446 My Scrapbook

ok

papapandu · Credits: 1446 My Scrapbook

ok

shrutarshi · Credits: 1953 My Scrapbook

thanks dr_bruno it will help me in AIPGE 2007

rajababu · Credits: 2225 My Scrapbook

Thanks dr bruno.

As per your advice ideal no is b/w 270 to 280. but it is vary vary difficult to manage. because most of us having shortage of time and unable to read paper second time.

hjorq · Credits: 2435 My Scrapbook

follow this simple rule...

we all have different levels of meherbani from lady luck!

so during ur prep while u solve papers mark 20-30 Qs randomly without even seeing at Qs. At the end of paper see where u landed. If u end in positive .. even if it is only + 1 mark . its worth doing matkebaaji.

but if luck doesnt favour u.. play it safe.

Another school of thought....
its +4 and -1. if you mark RANDOMLY there is 25% chance of an ans being correct. so out of 4 its 3 wrong 1 correct....ie +4-3=+1 ( & i guess thats a cool 70-80 ranks up the ladder)

BUT MIND YOU ITS APPLICABLE ONLY FOR RANDOM GUESSES!.. Q padhke options padhke sooch ke ans kiya to u r falling in the trap laid out for u by examiner. Offcourse koi clue hain to phir sooch ke hi ans karoge aap.

tc

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