Understanding Negative Marking: A Complete Guide
Negative marking means an incorrect answer costs you marks, not just a missed opportunity. So the right strategy isn't "always attempt everything" or "never guess," it's somewhere in between, and the math is simple once you see it.
- Unattempted questions always score zero; only a wrong answer costs you marks.
- Once you can eliminate even one of four options, a guess usually has better expected value than leaving it blank.
- A pure blind guess with all four options open is usually close to break-even or slightly negative.
How it works
Each exam sets its own deduction, most commonly 0.25 marks off for a wrong answer worth 1 mark, though some exams use 0.5 or a different ratio entirely. Check the exact figure on your exam's exam pattern page rather than assuming it matches a different exam you've prepared for. Unattempted questions score zero either way, so the only real risk is answering incorrectly.
Common negative-marking ratios on this site
| Deduction per wrong answer | Typical example |
|---|---|
| 0.25 marks (1-mark questions) | Most SSC and banking Prelims exams |
| 1/3 mark (1-mark questions) | Most RRB exams |
| 0.5 marks | A smaller number of exams |
| None | e.g. SSC MTS Session 1, LIC AAO Prelims |
When a guess is worth it
If you can confidently eliminate even one of four options, a random guess among the rest has better expected value than leaving it blank, for most standard negative-marking ratios. A pure blind guess with all four options still open is usually close to break-even or slightly negative, so it's better left unattempted.
Why this matters more than most students think
A handful of careless guesses can quietly erase the marks gained from your strongest section. Treat "should I guess this?" as a real decision each time, not a reflex, and review your mock test results specifically for wrong answers on questions you weren't sure about; how to analyze your mock test performance covers how to separate those from genuine knowledge gaps.
A handful of careless guesses can quietly erase the marks gained from your strongest section.
This is one of 5 common mistakes in SSC CGL preparation worth checking yourself against directly, since ignoring the exact deduction on your exam is a surprisingly frequent, entirely avoidable one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wrong answer typically cost in negative marking?
It varies by exam, but 0.25 marks off for a question worth 1 mark is the most common ratio across SSC and banking exams on this site. Some exams use 0.5, and a few use no negative marking at all, so always check the specific exam's pattern page rather than assuming.
Should I ever leave a question completely unattempted?
Yes, when you cannot eliminate any of the options. A pure blind guess across all four choices is usually close to break-even or slightly negative under standard negative-marking ratios, so it is better left blank than guessed at random.
Is it worth guessing if I can eliminate one wrong option?
Generally yes. Once you have ruled out even one of four options, a random guess among the remaining three has better expected value than leaving the question blank, for most standard negative-marking ratios.
Do unattempted questions lose marks under negative marking?
No. Unattempted questions always score zero, the same as they would under any marking scheme. The penalty applies only to answers you get wrong, which is exactly why guessing needs to be a deliberate decision rather than a reflex.