Five Options and Option E: When to Mark, When to Skip
Five Options and Option E: When to Mark, When to Skip
The five-option system is the newest feature of this examination and most candidates take it for nothing more than an extra choice. In fact it is a separate tool altogether, and simply knowing how to use it correctly makes the paper easier to handle.
What the Five Options Are
| Option | Meaning | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A, B, C, D | the four answer choices | +1 if correct, −1/3 if wrong |
| E | question not attempted | 0 |
| no bubble | unanswered | −1/3 |
So E is not a fifth answer — it is the formal way of skipping a question. Marking it as though it were an answer is as large a mistake as not marking it at all.
✗ Option E means none of the above | ✓ E means the question has not been attempted; it is a way of skipping, not an answer
Three Situations, Three Decisions
- You know the answer — mark the correct option from A to D. No hesitation.
- You do not know it but can rule out some options — choose from what remains; do not mark E.
- You have no idea at all — mark option E. Do not leave it blank.
The second situation matters most and is understood least. The moment even one option can be ruled out, guessing becomes profitable — the full arithmetic of that is in the next topic.
A Practical Rule for Marking E
- In the first pass through the paper, do only the questions you know at once.
- Mark the doubtful ones and move on without lingering.
- In the second pass, return to them and try to rule out options.
- At the end, mark option E on everything that remains.
- Before submitting, count and check that no bubble is blank.
Do not skip that last step. Leaving one or two bubbles blank in a hurry is common, and every blank bubble takes a third of a mark, whereas marking E on the same question takes nothing.
सोचने का सरल तरीका: E कोई हार नहीं है, वह एक सुरक्षा है। जिस प्रश्न पर आप कुछ नहीं जानते, उस पर E भरकर आप शून्य पर रुक जाते हैं।
TRE pointer: Understand first that E is not an answer but a way of skipping. Hold the three decisions: mark it if you know it, guess if you can rule something out, mark E if you know nothing. And check at the end that no bubble is blank — that one check alone can save two or three marks.
60-Second Recap
- A to D are the answer choices; E means the question was not attempted.
- Marking E gives zero and carries no deduction.
- Leaving the bubble blank costs a third of a mark.
- Mark the answer if you know it; guess if you can rule options out.
- Mark option E only when you have no idea at all.
- Check before submitting that no bubble has been left blank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does option E mean?
It means the candidate is not attempting that question. It is not an answer of the none of these kind; it is the formal way of skipping. Marking it as though it were an answer is as large a mistake as not marking it at all.
When should E be marked and when should you guess?
If you can rule out even one option with certainty, guess, because the average return is then positive. If nothing at all can be eliminated from the five and the question is completely unfamiliar, mark E and move on.
What is the difference between leaving a question blank and marking E?
A very large one. A blank bubble costs a third of a mark, while marking E costs nothing and gives zero. Across a paper of thirty questions that difference can run to several marks, which is decisive at a qualifying cut-off.
In what order should the paper be attempted?
In the first pass do only the questions you know at once. Mark the doubtful ones and move on, then return to them in a second pass and try to rule out options. At the end, mark E on everything left and check the whole sheet.