What should you do if you encounter a difficult question on the exam?

If you encounter a difficult question on the exam, skipping it and returning later if time permits is a strategic approach. This method allows you to manage your time effectively, ensuring that you can answer the questions you are confident about first. By doing so, you secure points for those questions and can come back to the challenging ones with a clearer mind after working through others. This can help you to possibly recall relevant information related to the difficult question or recognize patterns that could assist you in selecting a better answer upon your return.

The other methods can have negative repercussions. Jumping to the first seemingly acceptable answer may lead to a choice that is incorrect, which can lower your overall score. Spending excessive time trying to solve a tough question can detract from your ability to complete the rest of the exam, potentially causing you to miss out on points from questions you are capable of answering. Lastly, ignoring the question entirely means forfeiting any potential points you could earn if you were able to come back and answer it later or if you had some knowledge that could guide you. Therefore, returning to difficult questions later allows for a more balanced and well-managed exam strategy.