Is C the most common multiple choice answer?

Asked by: Mr. Kip Howell DVM  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (13 votes)

I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.

Is C the most likely answer?

You have a 25% chance of getting the question right if you guess. So at the very least, always guess! Myth 2: C is the best guess letter and is right more often than any other letter. C or H are right (and wrong) as often as any other answer choice.

Is C always the best answer?

C isn't any better or worse than any other letter, or any more likely to be the correct answer, but if you decide to stick with it for every blind guess you make, you'll be better off than trying to be "random."

Should I guess b or c?

The truth is, that when it comes to making blind guesses, it doesn't matter which letter you pick, only that you stick to the one you choose every time you make a blind guess. The best strategy, and the one that will maximize your overall point gain, is to pick your favorite letter and fill it in for every blind guess.

Is b or c the most common answer?

I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.

5 Rules (and One Secret Weapon) for Acing Multiple Choice Tests

19 related questions found

What is the best letter to guess in multiple choice?

It's best to pick one letter and guess with the same letter throughout the test. It statistically improves the chances of guessing more right. Remember, “When in doubt, pick C!” It doesn't have to be C. It just has to be the same letter every time.

What is the best answer for multiple choice?

- Choose the alternative that is most inclusive. - The longest choice is usually correct. It contains elaborations necessary to make it correct. - The correct choice will usually contain relative qualifiers such as usually, generally, sometimes, often, etc.

What letter is best to guess on the ACT?

For those guessing on only a few of the last ten questions, A/F would be the better option. The Safe Bet: Answer choice E/K is the safest choice because it, so far, has always had one correct answer. In fact, E/K has met or exceeded the expected average 82% of the time, making it the most consistent answer choice.

What is the trick for multiple choice questions?

Use these five tips to help you ace the multiple choice questions on your tests and exams.
  • Read the questions carefully. Make sure you understand what the question is asking. ...
  • Answer the question without looking at the options. ...
  • Eliminate the incorrect options. ...
  • Answer all the questions. ...
  • Manage your time.

Is B the most common multiple choice answer?

multiple-choice questions on advanced placement exams have five options: a,b,c,d, and e. a random sample of the correct choice on 400 multiple-choice questions on a variety of ap exams shows that b was the most common correct choice, with 90 of the 400 questions having b as the answer.

Is it better to skip questions on the SAT or guess?

You should answer every multiple-choice question on the new SAT, even if you have to guess. If you get all of them wrong (which is unlikely), you won't be any worse off than if you didn't bother to answer.

What are the odds of guessing on a multiple choice test?

Summary: A multiple-choice test has 5 questions each with 5 possible answers, the probability of guessing all the questions correctly is 1/3125.

Why is C the most common key?

Major scales are the most common scales used in music and C major is the only one without any flats or sharps (black keys). That makes it easiest, technically and visually for a beginner to learn this scale first, play music in the key of C or learn to read sheet music.

Does ACT penalize for guessing?

(There is no penalty for guessing.)

Is the letter C common?

C is the twelfth most frequently used letter in the English language (after E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R, D, and L), with a frequency of about 2.8% in words.

Should I guess B or C on the ACT?

For most of the ACT, there is no “best” letter to guess. Except… at the end of the Math section — then there is a best letter to guess on the ACT. Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.

What is the most common letter on a multiple choice test?

However, the most general assumption is often that 'C' is the correct answer, due to which it can be called the most popular multiple choice answer.

Is 41 a good ACT score?

For the top 25 US colleges and universities, you'll have a good ACT score if it's at least 32 or higher. For Ivy League schools, a good ACT score is between 32 or 33; but you'll be better off aiming for an ACT score of 34 or higher in such a competitive admissions landscape.

How to memorize multiple choice answers?

Study regularly leading up to the exam, and try to organize your notes in a way that makes them easier to remember. Making flash cards, using mnemonic devices such as acronyms, drawing concept maps, or whatever suits your learning style and can help you learn more efficiently.

Is C the most common answer on SAT?

Absolutely not! Sometimes it seems like “C”—or its equivalent, “H”—is the most common answer choice, but this is merely a myth. In fact, the answer choice orders on the ACT and SAT are generated by a computer and are entirely random.

Is multiple choice or short answer easier?

Not all short-answer questions are harder than multiple-choice questions and not all multiple-choice questions are easier than short-answer questions, and we happened to have asked a selection of short-answer questions which, overall, were easier than our multiple-choice questions.

How to choose the best answer in multiple choice?

Pay attention to keywords, read carefully, and eliminate any wrong answers. If you are still unsure, then take a guess and choose the answer that seems correct.

What are the most commonly used letter combinations?

  • Most common bigrams (in order) th, he, in, en, nt, re, er, an, ti, es, on, at, se, nd, or, ar, al, te, co, de, to, ra, et, ed, it, sa, em, ro.
  • Most common trigrams (in order) the, and, tha, ent, ing, ion, tio, for, nde, has, nce, edt, tis, oft, sth, men.
  • Results from Project Gutenberg.

Is it better to answer all questions on the ACT?

✓Answer every question. Your scores in the sections will be based only on the number of questions that you answer correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Try to answer every question within the time allowed for each section.