Negative marking in competitive tests helps to remind us of and propagate the phrase, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
Overview:
Most students are concerned about the NEET marking structure and frequently ask, “Is there negative marking in NEET?” Negative marking, in particular, may be a significant obstacle in any competitive test, causing applicants to hesitate to answer even when they have a good idea. However, one must recognise that even the slightest error will lose you a few thousand rankings.
Although the internet is swamped with 100s of suggestions to counter and address questions that may relate to NEET negative marking, we have brought you some of the best tips to help you cope with the fear of attempting questions and assess questions that may lead to NEET negative marking.
NEET Marking Structure
The NEET exam pattern, including the marking structure, remains unchanged. Negative marking will stay the same, with one mark subtracted for each incorrect response. In addition, each correct answer will be worth four points. All applicants must be aware of the negative marking pattern to focus on how to decrease negative markings during test preparation. Learning about negative marking and how to prevent it is a critical strategy for achieving a higher NEET-UG test score.
How is the NEET score calculated?
In NEET 2022, How Do You Calculate Negative Marking?
In NEET examinations, students can answer a maximum of 180 questions and can achieve 720 marks at maximum. Before taking the test, students must be familiar with the NEET marking structure.
The NEET marking structure is as follows:
- For every accurate response, four marks are rewarded.
- For every wrong answer, one mark is deducted.
- If a question is left unanswered, no mark is deducted.
You may use the following points to determine negative marking in NEET:
- Compute the number of correct answers and multiply by four.
- Compute the number of wrong answers.
Your NEET score is determined by the difference between the points mentioned above.
- Let’s have a look at this with the assistance of an example.
- A student takes the NEET test, and out of 180 questions, 110 are answered accurately, 60 are answered inaccurately, and 10 are left unanswered.
- Correct answers:
- 110 * 4 = 440 points earned (multiply by 4 as every correct answer carries 4 marks)
- Incorrect answers:
- 60 * 1 = 60 points will be removed (multiply by 1 as 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer)
- Unanswered questions:
- 10 * 0 = 0 points
- Final score: 440 – 60 – 0 = 380 points
- The student received a grade of 380/720.
DID YOU KNOW: As per the poll conducted on the response pattern with negative marking circumstances, more than 60% of students would like to leave questions unanswered, approximately 30% may or may not answer the question, and below 10% would choose to answer all questions, leaving no field blank.
According to the results of the poll, we will discuss three categories in-depth below:
- The student leaves questions unanswered.
It is one of the most typical activities, often resulting from a fear of negative marking. While you can do this for 3-4 questions if you have no idea what the subject is, it cannot be performed for 10-20 questions. It would have a significant influence on your total grade. Because the applicant has not attempted any questions, the odds of a good score in this no-risk zone are considerably reduced.
Is this a good strategy?
Because one does not answer many questions here, one’s chances of obtaining a good rank are reduced. Hence this is not a suitable strategy.
What is there to be done?
There is no replacement for thorough preparation. Doubts develop when you are unsure or have not read the notion; therefore, avoid staying in such a position. Completely cover all of the principles. Still, if you stumble across such questions about which you have no idea, consider the nearest or closest response; if you cannot resolve, move on to the next question. However, remember to keep this count to 1 or 2 to enhance your chances of achieving a higher score.
- Students respond to all of the questions.
The fear of losing out motivates students to answer all questions without considering the implications for their final grades. In this case, the student is not bothered about losing marks; instead, they want all dots to be noticeably darkened.
Is this a good strategy?
Because applicants try to mark all questions without knowing whether or not they are accurate, this strategy is not advised for an exam like NEET.
What is there to be done?
If you are unsure about a response, do not answer it at this moment. Skip that question and return to this later. If you are certain that the paper is sufficient for you and do not bother taking a chance on one or two questions, select the answer you believe has the highest likelihood. Always keep in mind that one incorrect response equals one point deducted, and the value of one mark in NEET examinations might cost you hundreds of rankings.
- The student may or may not show up for the question.
More than 30% of applicants choose this move, which is solely determined by how the paper is going for them at the time, and are therefore willing to pursue the gamesmanship strategy. To counteract the negative marking structure, applicants choose responses based on detailed estimates, such as:
- Choose the option you believe is the most likely.
- Use the elimination process. Here, you reject alternatives one by one that you think are unsuitable.
- Didn’t understand, then consider the following scenario:
- A student is concerned about 50 of the 180 questions on the NEET test.
- According to the NEET test format, 50 successfully answered questions correspond to 200 points.
- 50 * 4 = 200 points (since correct each question carries 4 marks)
- The student attempts 40 of the 50 questions using the technique mentioned above.
- Assume that more than half of the questions tried are right. Assume 30 * 4 = 120 points.
- This method increases the likelihood of right replies. As a result, a student gets more than 120 out of 240 points that would otherwise be unattempted or ambiguous.
Is this a good strategy?
This strategy is highly advised if a student is unsure since it takes calculated risks and, as a consequence, is more likely to result in success. Compared to the methods, the chances are higher and result in a higher score, but the risk remains the same, but the outcome varies. Here, the odds of leaving questions unanswered are lower, and most cases are supported by judgement.
What is there to be done?
Good NEET preparation is essential for success. Do not make yourself reach a stage where you are unsure about some concepts. Make sure you cover all of the chapters, even the minor ones, and avoid general speculation. Continue to practise papers to assess your ability to predict and boost your success chances. You will eventually obtain results.
What techniques and tricks can be used to eliminate negative marking?
Let us discuss 8 techniques/tricks in eliminating negative scores in NEET 2022.
- Examine the question paper thoroughly
Reading the question paper two or three times or looking through it carefully will help you start the NEET test.
You may experience similar questions from previous year’s NEET question papers. However, there may be little differences in the papers that you overlook. As a result, it is strongly advised that you thoroughly study your question paper before replying.
- Be confident but not overconfident
It is commendable to be confident in the exam. However, don’t go overboard and become sloppy while answering questions. It’s so typical that some students become too excited after reviewing the question paper, resulting in silly mistakes and low grades.
So, if you want to avoid bad markings and achieve a higher score on the NEET exam, try not to be confused when taking it.
- Avoid attending doubtful questions
Do not attempt a NEET question if you are doubtful about it. If you’re stuck on a question that’s eating up your time, skip it or try again later.
The rational strategy is to leave unanswered/confusing questions rather than provide a misleading response.
- Prevent multiple responses
It is critical to study the NEET rules before taking the test. On the OMR sheet, never choose two replies to a single question.
If you do this, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the whole question will be rejected, resulting in negative grading.
Aside from that, make sure that the answer circles on the OMR page are correctly filled out, and there is no overlapping.
- No guesswork
You must be aware of the importance of the NEET test and how careful you should be when responding to each question.
You really shouldn’t try your luck by addressing questions about which you are unfamiliar.
You may believe that your answer sheet is incomplete and that you haven’t attempted many questions, but the greatest part to do is to leave questions unsolved rather than taking a chance on them.
- Don’t overburden yourself
When students in the test hall are given a question paper, many feel concerned about the questions they do not understand.
Overburden has an immediate negative impact on the students, which may distract them, resulting in poor performance.
Consequently, the first and most crucial responsibility is to thoroughly read the paper and start with questions you are comfortable with.
- Don’t waste your time
Do not begin by answering the toughest questions on the paper. It will consume a significant amount of your time, and you may not be able to complete the NEET-UG exam on time. As a result, all NEET applicants are urged to begin their test by answering simple questions rather than spending time on difficult ones.
- Avoid performing oral calculations
Remember that NEET does not assess your IQ. Instead, it will determine your comprehensive understanding of all ideas and applications. As a result, do not attempt to solve any problems orally. Calculations should always be done using a pen and paper. That way, you may be certain that the answers are right.
Also See: How to crack NEET Exam | NEET Preparation Tips & Tricks
Frequently asked questions on the NEET negative marking.
Question 1: Is there a negative marking system in NEET 2022?
The NEET is a negative marking system. NEET consists of 180 questions, each worth 4 marks, for 720 marks. One mark is deducted for each incorrect response. In case questions are left un-attempted, no marks will be deducted.
Question 2: In NEET 2022, how many marks are deducted for an incorrect answer?
NEET is the toughest and only medical examination in India. As a result, students should carefully go through the alternatives and choose the correct ones to eliminate any guessing if they want to achieve a high NEET score. One mark is deducted for each incorrect response, whereas no marks are deducted if a question is not attempted.
Question 3: How can we prevent negative NEET marking?
- Avoid doubtful questions
- Read all of the questions thoroughly
- Stop stressing yourself out
- Don’t wait until the last minute to answer
- Stick to the NEET guidelines
Question 4: How do you approach NEET questions to avoid negative marking?
- It is best to read the complete paper for the first 10 minutes to understand the question patterns.
- If feasible, spend 3 minutes going over all of the questions in each Subject area before you begin.
- Avoid negative markings by only answering questions in which you are completely confident.
Question 5: Is it necessary to attempt all NEET questions?
You don’t need to answer all 10 MCQs out of the 15 MCQs in section B; you should only attempt those whose answers you know; it is only in section B that you have internal options. Therefore you may only attempt a maximum of 10 MCQs out of the 15 MCQs in section B.
Read the blog to know more about how to attempt the NEET Exam.
