When to skip a hard question

On a timed test where questions are worth the same, skip a question when you've spent roughly twice your average time per item without a clear path to the answer, when you notice you're repeating the same approach, or when frustration is rising. Flag it, move on and return if time allows. Check first that the test lets you go back; some adaptive tests don't.

Sunk-cost thinking makes it hard to abandon an item after investing time. The more effort spent, the more it feels wasteful to move on. But in a test, past time is gone; the only question is how to use remaining time best. Returning later can also help because a break from the item weakens an unhelpful approach, making a fresh representation more likely.

With 20 minutes for 30 items, the average is 40 seconds. A test taker notices she has spent 90 seconds on item 12, flags it and moves on. She finishes the remaining items, returns with three minutes left and solves it quickly after spotting a rule she'd overlooked.