Negative Marking Calculator

By CalculatorBolt Team | Published: January 15, 2025 | Updated: January 15, 2025 | Reviewed by: Test Prep Editor

Work out your net score when an exam uses negative marking. Enter the number of correct, wrong, and blank answers, the marks per question, and the penalty per wrong answer.

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Calculate Your Score

Total items in the paper
Points for each correct answer
Enter decimal (0.25) or ratio (1/3). Parsed value: 0.25
Optional (auto-computed)
No partial credit: This calculator assumes each answer is fully correct or wrong.

Add multiple sections with different Q, M, r values.

Guessing Helper

Should you guess or skip? Calculate the expected value and threshold.

How it works

Formula (single section):

Net = (Correct × Marks) − (Wrong × Penalty × Marks)

Where Penalty = r (e.g., 0.25 or 1/3) and Marks = M per question. Max marks = Q × M. Percentage = Net/Max × 100.

You can add sections in Advanced if your test has different parts with different marks/penalties.

Inputs explained

  • Total questions (Q): Total items in the paper/section
  • Marks per correct (M): Points for a correct answer (e.g., 2 or 4)
  • Negative penalty (r): Per wrong answer (e.g., 0.25 or 1/3)
  • Correct (C), Wrong (W), Blank (B): B is optional and auto‑computed if left empty
  • Attempts + Accuracy mode: Enter how many you attempted and your accuracy %, we derive C/W/B
  • Advanced:
    • Sectional mode: add sections with their own Q, M, r, C, W
    • Guessing helper: number of options (n), expected value, and guess/skip threshold

Example

Scenario: Q=100, M=2, r=0.25, C=62, W=18 → B auto = 20

Calculation:

  • Raw = 62×2 = 124
  • Deduction per wrong = r×M = 0.25×2 = 0.5
  • Total deduction = 18×0.5 = 9
  • Net = 124 − 9 = 115
  • Max = 100×2 = 200
  • Percentage = 115/200 = 57.5%

Guessing Analysis: Threshold p* = r/(1 + r) = 0.25/1.25 = 0.20 (20%). With 4 options, p=25% > 20% → guessing beats skipping; with 5 options, p=20% ≈ threshold → neutral.

Tips & notes

  • Use exam presets to fill typical values (e.g., JEE 4 marks, 0.25 penalty; SSC 2 marks, 0.5 penalty).
  • If your exam has different sections (e.g., Reasoning vs Quant), use sectional mode and set different M and r.
  • For blind guesses, compare 1/n to r/(1+r). If 1/n is larger, guessing is usually better than skipping.
  • This calculator ignores partial credit and multi‑select nuances unless you model them as separate sections.

FAQs

Type "1/3" or "0.3333". We parse ratios and show the decimal we use.

Yes. Enable Sectional mode in Advanced and add sections with their own Q, M, r, C, W.

Toggle "Attempts + Accuracy" mode. We compute C, W, and B for you.

Guessing threshold p* = r/(1+r). If your chance of being correct p > p*, guessing has positive expected value.

Model any partial‑credit rules as separate sections with a smaller "Marks per correct" value, or adjust your C/W accordingly.

No. Everything runs in your browser. Use Share Link to save or share your inputs.

Disclaimer

Educational tool only. Exam rules vary by organization and year. Always verify marks and penalties with official instructions.

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