How should you handle difficult math questions on the New Jersey civil service test?

• A. Skip difficult questions initially, answer easier ones first, then return.
• B. Skip them and never come back.
• C. Guess randomly without marking.
• D. Spend excessive time on each difficult problem.

Answer: (A)

Time management is the core idea here. On a timed math section, you want to lock in as many correct answers as possible by moving through questions you can solve quickly and confidently, then returning to the tougher ones if time allows. Start with the easier problems so you grab those points and build momentum. As you work, mark the difficult items so you can easily find them again without losing track of time.

This strategy prevents you from getting stuck on one hard question and helps ensure you don’t leave multiple questions unanswered because you ran out of time. Spending too much time on a single problem reduces the chance to earn points on the rest of the section, and leaving hard questions blank wastes potential scoring opportunities. When you do revisit the tough questions, use any eliminations you can make and apply educated guesses if appropriate, rather than guessing blindly on the first pass.