OUTSMART CLAT

by Dr. Sanjeev Simlai & Arvind Srivastava

We am sure by now you must be through with your CLAT Preparations. All the sections/topics
covered. Test Taking Strategy in-place. Revision done. Ready to go for the kill. At this point
We want to wish you the very best for the D-day. Remember you are the first to do the CLAT
online. At Team Satyam/CLAT Possible you are now adept and proficient to understand the
intricacies, idiocies of electronic testing. May GOD bless your efforts. Go and do your best.

One TIP for the test day May 10, 2015

On the test day, while taking the test an aspirant generally gets a hunch of how he/she is fairing
in the test.
There can be three types of gut-feelings:
1. You have done well in all the sections and you are sure of clearing the expected cut-offs
and are very sure of your selection in one of the top NLUs.
2. Borderline Case: You are not very sure of how you have done. You have doubts.
3. You know that you have not performed upto-the-mark and there is no chance of selection.
Here starts the game of guessing. Earlier when there was no negative marking system most of
the aspirants used to guess blindly. The smarter ones used the method of elimination/negation.
In that system of negative marking anybody had a chance, because there was nothing to lose.
Now in the CLAT, to stop this game of guessing, the host NLU has introduced negative marking
in the Exam. Now you have to know the system of negative marking well and the effect it will
have on your scores and then decide on whether you should play the guessing game or not, or
how to play the guessing game the smarter way.

You are trained to Outsmart CLAT at Team Satyam/CLAT Possible:

CLAT has acted smart. Now you have to Outsmart them knowing and using the effect of
negative marking system to your advantage. And believe us with this negative marking system
you are not at loss, at all. Not due to the argument How does it matter as to what scheme is
used, it is same for all, but due to Simple Probability Rules: Total number of Questions: 200
Time Allowed: 2 Hours
Each Question with Four Options
One Mark for Correct Response
Minus .25 for every Wrong Response

Effect: Lets us first understand the effect of negative marking on our marks.
Playing Blind: With minus .25 for wrong response from amongst the given four options, even if
you guess blindly you are likely to gain .0625 for every question. How?
Out of the four options if you choose one, as per the simple probability rule (number of
favorable outcome / total number of possible outcome) there is 25% probability of getting
the question correct.
i.e. for every four questions attempted you can gain 1 mark and lose .75 marks (.25 x 3).
i.e. you gain .25 marks for every four questions attempted in which you guessed blindly.
Which means you gain .0625 marks (.25/4) for every question
+12.5 for 200 questions. ?

Negate One Option: If you are able to negate/eliminate one option then your gain can increases
to .166 marks per question. If you negate one option out of the given four options, then
Your chances of marking it correctly increases to 1/3 i.e. 33.33%
i.e. for every three questions you attempt you gain 1 mark and loose .50 marks.
i.e. you gain .5 marks for every three questions you attempt.
Which results in a gain of .166 marks per question (.50/3).
+33.33 for 200 questions. ?
Negate Two Options: If you are smarter and are able to negate/eliminate two options out of the
given four then your gain per question can go up to .375 per question.
If you negate two options then your chance of choosing the correct option increases to
1/2 i.e. 50%.
i.e. for every two questions you attempt you have all the chances of gaining 1 mark and
loosing just .25 marks.
i.e. you gain .75 marks for every two questions you attempt.
Which will fetch you .375 marks for every question (.75/2)
+75 for 200 questions.
?
Negate Three Options: There can be questions where you are not sure of the answer. But if
you are able to use the method of elimination and negate three options somehow, then what is
the problem in choosing the fourth option.
Now when you are aware of the effect of negative marking system is going to have on your
score you can use it to your advantage. As per your hunch of how you are fairing in your
examination and knowing the effect of negative marking you can use this grid for playing the
guessing game:

Hunch:
Very sure of
Selection

Blind Guess

Negate One Option

Never Play.

Avoid Playing.

Game.
Hunch:
Borderline
Case

Hunch:
Not qualifying
with this
performance.

|
|

Do it. Play blindly if

there is no time left.

We recommend.
| You
Should.

Do it. Try to eliminate

atleast one option.

Negate Two Options

Negate Three Options

We recommend.
| You Should.

| Definitely play.
Can improve your rank.

| Game

Do it. ?

Do it. If you are able

to do this, your score
will increase
dramatically.

|
|
|
Do it.

Note: During the round 1 of attempting the test if you are not able to answer questions but see an options which
can be negated, mark them with the pencil. This will help you later, while making guesses.

The Final Words: Probability simply means likelihood. The above is a recommendation from our
side. You must have got many tips for your exams from your mentors at TS/CP. While
attempting the test do what suits you the best at that time.
(

) | Be Cool. Be Confident. Its always hot in May. We dont recall any of you
born in the Alps or Antartica.

Dr. Sanjeev Simlai

Arvind Srivastava