Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Stellar_Panda OP t1_j6pe0pe wrote

Reply to comment by DiamondIceNS in ELI5 - When filling multiple choice bubbles at random why only go with 1 letter? by Stellar_Panda

Okay, why is selecting a straight line of 'C's better than filling in with no rhyme or reason (like the test probably would have looked like if you actually took it?) I think this is what my question boils down to.

If everything is 1/4 why would always choosing the same answer increase your chances? (Ignoring the whole 'C' is actually a better guess findings.) It doesn't right?-

1

DiamondIceNS t1_j6pf6rj wrote

If the test is written by a person, C is most likely. Because the answers are (probably) not 1/4 each.

If the test was shuffled by a machine, and the answers are perfect 1/4 chance, then no strategy is better than any other. Picking straight C is just as effective as picking C most of the time and picking B sometimes, and just as effective as picking with no pattern at all.

1

Stellar_Panda OP t1_j6pfl2l wrote

If machine wouldn't having a pattern hurt you? If random, try to be random. Would this not offer some kind of marginal benefit? Because very low probability of answer always being C, etc? I guess not..?

1