What should a test-taker do if they encounter a difficult question on the OAT?

When faced with a difficult question on the OAT, marking it to return later if time permits is a strategically sound approach. This method allows the test-taker to maintain pacing throughout the exam while ensuring that they do not get bogged down by a single challenging question. By marking the question, they can revisit it after addressing other questions that may be more straightforward or within their comfort zone, potentially increasing their overall score.

This approach is particularly effective in standardized testing, where time management is essential. It helps to reduce anxiety and prevents the test-taker from dwelling too long on a question, which can lead to time constraints in later sections of the exam. Additionally, as the exam progresses, the test-taker might find that they recall information or develop insight that could help in answering the previously difficult question.

Other strategies, such as trying to solve it immediately without skipping or spending excessive time on it, can disrupt the flow of the test and might result in lower overall performance due to inadequate time for other questions. Thus, marking it to return later is the best practice for maximizing performance on the OAT.