How to avoid the scare of negative marking in Competitive Entrance Exams

Submitted by zameer on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 03:33.
Keyword: 
Competitive Entrance Exams,Negative Marking

Negative Marking in Entrance Exams

The Entrance Examination serves as a screening test /short listing test for the many of the Examination. When the system was introduced, there was criticism from some peoples that an objective type examination was amenable to guessing and by sheer probability a candidate could score marks even by guessing. However, these fears were unfounded. With the increase in the competition, the subjective or written examination is loosing its trend. Now examination is on objective pattern where you are to choose the appropriate option among the given answers. Introduction of penalty marks for wrong answers or negative marking at the examination.This can be a big pain for individuals who like to write long answers in examination believing; “the more you write, the more you score”. This can not be a correct approach if you are planning to write one of these objective examination as most of them comes with negative marking. These questions just check your ability to find solution with whatever situation given in least amount of time. It does not consider how you reach to that answer.

What is the rationale behind negative marking?

While answering the test booklets, there is a possibility that a candidate may have no knowledge of the subject but can make a guess in the multiple choices. As per the existing practice, if the answer is correct, he gets credit for it but for a wrong answer, there is no deduction of marks. Since the purpose of the Examination is to pick up competent and serious-minded candidates, it is considered expedient to introduced negative marking for wrong answers. The Satish Chandra Committee recommended a 50% penalty for wrong answers. However, the UPSC deferred the introduction of negative marking. From this year, this recommendation is being implemented with a reduced penalty i.e., 1/3rd of the marks (0.33) assigned to a question will be deducted in case of wrong answer as a penalty. This change has been major source of anxiety to most of the serious students ever since it has been announced. In the present scenario, wrong guessing leads to penalties and this is the main source of anxiety.

  Since the examination is divided into various sections, one may be asked to show a fair bit of competence in each section rather than showing excellence in any one particular section. While tackling with any of these examinations, there are a few helpful methods that can certainly help you for the same:

Before Examination

  •   Exam Pattern - Before giving any exam, be familiar with the exam pattern. This information is easily available from the internet. You should know the Number of questions, Time Limit, Expected Cut-off marks, No. of attempts required with a fair bit of accuracy.
  •   Analysis and time Management- As one knows his/her strong domains, you can allocate time for yourself as to how much time is to be devoted to the particular sections. This would avoid you coming in the temptation of doing more than required question in any particular section.
  •   Subject Knowledge - Just be familiar with formulas, short cut methods, theorems and all the necessary information. You can’t just afford to make guesses in the exam.

During the Examination

  •   Avoid Erasing: Any kind of stray remarks can get you cancel your OMR sheet. Don’t keep erasing and changing your answers. Sometimes when they are not completely erased, these can be detected by the machine checking your sheet resulting in NEGATIVE MARKING!!!!
  •   CAPITALIZE on your strengths: In the heat of the examination, people fail to locate easier questions or the type of questions they have already done. Just scan the paper and mark the questions which you could try to do.
  •   Don’t be in HURRY: Panic and stress can lead you to this mistake. Instead of marking option A of Q.34 some people mark the option A of Q.33. While you think you marked a correct option, the result may be a little different than what you anticipated. So, don’t rush!!! Just check before you mark the options.
  •   Avoid FLUKES: There is nothing called “THE MAGIC DICE” that will tell you the right answer. If you continue to go by that approach, be mentally prepared for a disaster.

Should the aspirant stop guessing?

Should the aspirant stop guessing? There is probably more controversy surrounding the issue of guessing than any other.If you ask several people for advise, you will surely get conflicting answers. Guesses are of two types:

  • Wild guesses (where the answer sheet is marked at random hoping that some marks will be scored by probability)
  • Educated guesses (where the candidate is able to eliminate at least two of the four choices and has to choose between two choices).

It is unlikely that you will profit from wild guessing. Educated guessing, on the other hand, can have a positive effect on your score and could be the lifeline between success and failure.In general it pays to make educated guesses.


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