How Negative Marking Works
In competitive exams, negative marking is a system used to discourage guessing. For every wrong answer, a specific number of marks is deducted from your total score.
The standard formula used by this calculator is:
(Correct Answers × Marks per Question) - (Wrong Answers × Penalty)
Common Exam Patterns
Here are the default marking schemes for popular exams in 2024-2025:
| Exam Name | Correct (+) | Wrong (-) |
|---|---|---|
| NEET (UG) | +4 | -1 |
| JEE Main | +4 | -1 |
| UPSC Prelims | +2 | -0.66 |
| SSC CGL | +2 | -0.50 |
| CAT | +3 | -1 |
Tips to Reduce Negative Marks
To improve your score, focus on accuracy rather than attempts. If you are unsure about an answer, it is often statistically better to skip the question unless you can eliminate at least two options.