Grade: Grade 5 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Time Management SAT Domain: Problem Solving + Data Analysis ACT Section: All Sections

Strategic Skipping

Learn how to manage your time on tests by knowing when to skip questions and come back to them later.

Learn

Have you ever been stuck on a hard question during a test while time ticks away? Strategic skipping is a powerful skill that helps you answer more questions correctly by managing your time wisely.

Why Skip Questions?

Not all questions are equal in difficulty, but they're all worth the same points! A hard question that takes 5 minutes gives you the same points as an easy one that takes 30 seconds.

All Questions = Same Points

On most standardized tests, every question is worth the same amount. Getting 3 easy questions right is better than spending all your time on 1 hard question!

Never Leave Blanks

On multiple choice tests, there's no penalty for guessing. Before time runs out, always fill in an answer for every question - even if it's just your best guess!

When Should You Skip?

Knowing when to skip is just as important as knowing how to solve problems. Here are the signs that it's time to move on:

  • You've spent too long - If you've been on one question for more than 2 minutes, it's time to move on
  • You don't understand the question - If you read it twice and it still doesn't make sense, skip it
  • You're feeling stuck or frustrated - Your brain works better when you're calm. Move on and come back with fresh eyes
  • You see other questions you know - Answer the ones you're confident about first!

The 2-Minute Rule

  • If you've been working on a question for 2 minutes without making progress, it's time to skip
  • Mark the question so you can find it easily later
  • Move on to the next question immediately
  • Plan to come back if you have time at the end

Coming Back with Fresh Eyes

Something amazing happens when you skip a question and come back later. Your brain keeps working on the problem in the background! When you return, you often see the solution more clearly. This is called "incubation" - your brain needs time to process tricky problems.

The SKIP Smart Strategy

Remember this acronym to help you make smart skipping decisions:

  • S Scan the question first - Read it quickly to see if you understand what's being asked
  • K Know your strengths - Start with question types you're confident about
  • I If stuck, mark it and move on - Don't waste precious time. Circle it and continue!
  • P Plan to return with time left - Save 5-10 minutes at the end to go back to skipped questions

Decision Flowchart

Use this flowchart to decide whether to keep working on a question or skip it:

Should I Skip This Question?

Do you understand what the question is asking?
YES
|
Have you spent more than 2 minutes on it?
NO
|
Keep working! You've got this!
YES
|
Time to skip! Mark it and move on.
NO
|
Skip it now! Mark and come back later.
|
Remember: Before time runs out, guess on any blanks!

Examples

Let's see how strategic skipping works in a real test situation.

Sample Test: 10 Questions in 20 Minutes

Imagine you have a test with these 10 questions. The colors show how hard each question is for you:

Q1 Easy
Q2 Medium
Q3 Hard
Q4 Easy
Q5 Hard
Q6 Easy
Q7 Medium
Q8 Easy
Q9 Hard
Q10 Medium

Strategic Order vs. Regular Order

Without strategic skipping: You might get stuck on Q3 for 5 minutes, then Q5 for another 4 minutes, and run out of time before finishing!

With strategic skipping:

1 First pass: Answer Q1, Q4, Q6, Q8 (Easy - about 4 minutes total)
2 Second pass: Answer Q2, Q7, Q10 (Medium - about 6 minutes total)
3 Third pass: Try Q3, Q5, Q9 (Hard - use remaining 10 minutes)
4 Final minute: Make sure all questions have an answer!

Time Allocation Example

Here's how you might divide your time on a 20-minute, 10-question test:

First Pass: 5 minutes

Quickly go through all questions. Answer the ones you know immediately. Mark ones you need to come back to.

Second Pass: 10 minutes

Work on the medium-difficulty questions. Use the 2-minute rule - if you're stuck, move on.

Final Pass: 5 minutes

Tackle the hardest questions. In the last minute, make sure every question has an answer!

Practice

Practice making strategic decisions with these test-taking scenarios. Choose the best action for each situation.

Scenario 1

You've been working on question 5 for 3 minutes. You've tried two different approaches but you're still not sure of the answer. There are 15 more questions to go and 25 minutes left.

What should you do?

Scenario 2

You just started the test. Question 1 looks really confusing and you don't understand what it's asking. You haven't even tried to solve it yet.

What should you do?

Scenario 3

There are 2 minutes left in the test. You have answered 18 out of 20 questions. Questions 7 and 15 are still blank because you skipped them.

What should you do?

Scenario 4

You're on question 8 and it's a type of problem you're really good at. But you also notice that question 9 looks even easier. You have plenty of time left.

What should you do?

Check Your Understanding

Test your time management knowledge with the Time Manager Game! Answer 6 scenarios to prove you're a strategic skipping expert.

Time Manager Challenge

Score: 0/6
0/6

Next Steps

Great job learning about strategic skipping! Here's what to remember:

Key Takeaways

  • All questions are worth the same points - don't spend too long on hard ones
  • Use the 2-minute rule: if stuck for 2 minutes, mark and move on
  • Remember SKIP Smart: Scan, Know your strengths, If stuck move on, Plan to return
  • Never leave blanks on multiple choice - always guess before time runs out
  • Coming back with fresh eyes often helps you see the answer more clearly

Ready to put your skills into practice? Continue to the next lesson to learn about pacing yourself throughout an entire test!