What should you do before looking at the answer choices according to the strategy mentioned?

Before looking at the answer choices, it's beneficial to create your own answer. This strategy encourages you to engage deeply with the question and the material it presents, allowing you to formulate an understanding of the content before being influenced by the provided options. By thinking critically and independently about what the answer might be, you clarify your thoughts and can better evaluate the answer choices once you see them.

This approach helps in a couple of ways: it reinforces comprehension of the passage or problem, and it helps to prevent confusion caused by answer choices that may distract from your initial understanding. When you have your answer in mind, it becomes easier to identify which of the provided choices aligns with your formulation and choice of reasoning. Furthermore, this method can lead to increased confidence in your answer selection process.