Competitive Exam Tool

Negative Marking Calculator

Calculate your exam score with negative marking for JEE, NEET, UPSC, SSC, and other competitive exams. Get accurate scores with detailed breakdowns.

Calculate Your Score

Enter your exam details to calculate score with negative marking

Total questions in the exam

Total marks for the exam

Number of questions you answered

Questions you got wrong

Select the negative marking scheme for your exam

Formula Used:
Total Score = (Correct × Marks per Q) - (Wrong × Marks per Q × Ratio)
Accuracy = (Correct ÷ Attempted) × 100
Common Exam Patterns

Negative marking schemes in popular competitive exams

JEE Main1/4
4 marks per question • Deduction: 1 mark
NEET UG1/4
4 marks per question • Deduction: 1 mark
UPSC Prelims1/3
2 marks per question • Deduction: 0.66 marks
SSC CGL Tier-I1/4
2 marks per question • Deduction: 0.5 marks
Bank PO1/4
1 mark per question • Deduction: 0.25 marks
CAT1/3
3 marks per MCQ • Deduction: 1 mark
GATE1/3 or 2/3
1 or 2 marks • Deduction: Varies
Strategy Tips

Smart approaches for exams with negative marking

✅ Do This

  • • Attempt questions you're 70%+ confident about
  • • Maintain accuracy above 75% for optimal scores
  • • Use elimination method before guessing
  • • Practice time management to review answers

❌ Avoid This

  • • Random guessing without elimination
  • • Attempting all questions just to complete
  • • Rushing through questions carelessly
  • • Ignoring negative marking in strategy

💡 Pro Tips

  • • For 1/4 marking: If you can eliminate 2 options, attempt it
  • • Leave questions where you're completely unsure
  • • Focus on accuracy over speed in initial attempts
  • • Review marked questions in remaining time
Example Scenarios
JEE Main225 marks
Total: 90 | Attempted: 75
Correct: 60 | Wrong: 15Accuracy: 80.0%
Negative Marking: 1/4
NEET UG620 marks
Total: 200 | Attempted: 180
Correct: 160 | Wrong: 20Accuracy: 88.9%
Negative Marking: 1/4
UPSC Prelims260 marks
Total: 100 | Attempted: 85
Correct: 70 | Wrong: 15Accuracy: 82.4%
Negative Marking: 1/3
SSC CGL285 marks
Total: 100 | Attempted: 90
Correct: 75 | Wrong: 15Accuracy: 83.3%
Negative Marking: 1/4

What Is Negative Marking in Competitive Exams?

Negative marking is a scoring system used in competitive exams where marks are deducted for incorrect answers. This system is designed to discourage random guessing and reward candidates who attempt questions with reasonable confidence and knowledge. Instead of simply counting correct answers, negative marking penalizes wrong attempts, making accuracy as important as knowledge.

The most common negative marking ratios are 1/4 (one-fourth of marks deducted), 1/3 (one-third), and 1/2 (half marks deducted). For example, in exams like JEE Main and NEET with 1/4 negative marking, if each correct answer earns 4 marks, each wrong answer results in a deduction of 1 mark.

How Negative Marking Affects Your Score

Understanding the impact of negative marking is crucial for exam strategy. The effect varies based on the marking scheme and your accuracy rate.

1/4 Negative Marking (Most Common)

  • • Used in JEE Main, NEET, SSC CGL, Bank PO exams
  • • 4 wrong answers = losing 1 correct answer's worth
  • • Break-even point: Need 75%+ accuracy
  • • Recommended: Attempt if 70%+ confident

1/3 Negative Marking (Stricter)

  • • Used in UPSC CSE Prelims, CAT
  • • 3 wrong answers = losing 1 correct answer's worth
  • • Break-even point: Need 80%+ accuracy
  • • Recommended: Attempt if 75%+ confident

Real Impact Example:

Scenario A: High Accuracy
80 attempted, 70 correct, 10 wrong
Score: 70×4 - 10×1 = 270 marks
Accuracy: 87.5%
Scenario B: Low Accuracy
100 attempted, 70 correct, 30 wrong
Score: 70×4 - 30×1 = 250 marks
Accuracy: 70%

Notice: Attempting fewer questions with higher accuracy (Scenario A) scores better than attempting more with lower accuracy (Scenario B).

Strategic Approach for Exams with Negative Marking

Success in exams with negative marking requires a balanced strategy between attempting questions and maintaining accuracy. Here's a comprehensive approach for different marking schemes.

When to Attempt (1/4 Marking)

  • • You're 70%+ confident about the answer
  • • You can eliminate 2 out of 4 options
  • • You have reasonable logic/understanding
  • • Pattern/formula is clear in your mind
  • • You can verify through calculation

When to Skip

  • • Complete guess between multiple options
  • • Cannot eliminate any option confidently
  • • Topic is completely unfamiliar
  • • Taking too much time to solve
  • • Confidence level below 60-65%

Time Management

  • • Solve easy questions first to build confidence
  • • Mark doubtful questions for later review
  • • Allocate time for final accuracy check
  • • Don't spend too long on single question
  • • Keep 10-15 minutes for reviewing marked questions

Accuracy Goals

  • • For 1/4 marking: Aim for 80%+ accuracy
  • • For 1/3 marking: Target 85%+ accuracy
  • • Practice mock tests to gauge accuracy
  • • Track accuracy patterns by subject
  • • Adjust attempt strategy based on accuracy

Frequently Asked Questions