medium · GMAT Verbal

How does the GMAT scoring algorithm treat unanswered questions at the end of a section?

1. They are treated far more leniently than wrong answers, earning roughly half credit toward the scaled score.
2. The scoring computer optimistically assumes each blank would in fact have been answered correctly.
3. They reduce only your reported percentile rank and never touch the underlying scaled score at all.
4. They are ignored by the algorithm entirely and therefore have no measurable effect on your final score whatever.
5. They incur a heavier penalty than answering incorrectly, so leaving them blank is the worst choice.

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