Guessing on multiple-choice test

Question

In the Malaysian or American education system, a type of test used is the multiple-choice test. On this type of test, there is a question and the test gives multiple answers to choose from (usually 4 or 5). As fas as I know, most teachers do not mind their students guessing, and some teachers make the questions difficult so that the grades will still reflect the person's knowledge. What is the ruling on a Muslim taking a guess on these test? Is this a lie? Also, on all tests, if a student is a little unsure about an answer, can he or she still put down that answer he thinks is right?

Answer

Guessing on a test is not unlawful. It is not a form of cheating. It is up to the student to answer to the best of his or her knowledge. A guess still falls within that category, as the test taker is not benefiting from outside knowledge when he or she makes a guess. 

What is unlawful is for the student to cheat by looking at a cheat sheet or at another student’s paper. In this case, the student is benefiting from knowledge that he or she does not really possess and is therefore guilty of a deliberate deception. 

It is up to the test developers to decide how to handle guesses and uncertain answers. If a test developer wants to, he or she can give a penalty for wrong answers (usually a -1/4 point on a test where a correct answer is valued at a single point) to discourage guessing. This is a lawful practice for the test developers as long as it is applied to all students equally, just as guessing is a lawful practice for the test takers, since no dishonesty is involved. 

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net