{"id":1990,"date":"2025-03-26T21:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T16:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=1990"},"modified":"2025-10-28T13:22:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T07:52:14","slug":"negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/","title":{"rendered":"Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims, Understanding the Marking System &#038; Calculation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<label class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/label>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #127abf;color:#127abf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #127abf;color:#127abf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#Negative_Marking_in_UPSC_Prelims\" >Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#Negative_Marking_in_UPSC_Prelims_Exam_Paper-Wise_Breakdown\" >Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims Exam: Paper-Wise Breakdown<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#CSAT_Negative_Marking_Important_Points\" >CSAT Negative Marking: Important Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#Strategies_to_Avoid_Losing_Marks_Due_to_Negative_Marking\" >Strategies to Avoid Losing Marks Due to Negative Marking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#UPSC_Mains_Penalty_Marks_Is_There_Negative_Marking\" >UPSC Mains Penalty Marks: Is There Negative Marking?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/negative-marking-in-upsc-prelims\/#Negative_Marking_in_UPSC_Prelims_FAQs\" >Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> follows a negative marking system that can significantly impact a candidate&#8217;s final score. Understanding <\/span><b>negative marking in UPSC Prelims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential for effective exam strategies. Candidates appearing for <\/span><b>UPSC Prelims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> must be cautious while answering questions to avoid unnecessary loss of marks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we explain <\/span><b>negative marking in UPSC Prelims exam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>CSAT negative marking<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and how to calculate the penalty for incorrect answers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Negative_Marking_in_UPSC_Prelims\"><\/span><b>Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims refers to the penalty for incorrect answers, where 1\/3rd of the marks assigned to a question are deducted. This applies to both General Studies Paper-I and CSAT Paper-II, except for decision-making questions in CSAT. The <\/span><b>UPSC Prelims exam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> consists of two papers:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>General Studies Paper-I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (GS Paper)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-csat-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Paper-II<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both papers have <\/span><b>negative marking<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for incorrect answers. However, the marking pattern varies slightly between the two papers.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>General Studies Paper-I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Negative marking is <\/span><b>1\/3rd of the marks assigned to a question<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>CSAT Paper-II<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Negative marking also follows the <\/span><b>1\/3rd rule<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, except for <\/span><b>Decision-Making Questions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which do not have any negative marking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that for every incorrect answer, <\/span><b>1\/3rd of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Negative_Marking_in_UPSC_Prelims_Exam_Paper-Wise_Breakdown\"><\/span><b>Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims Exam: Paper-Wise Breakdown<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-Wise Breakdown explains how negative marking is applied separately in General Studies Paper-I and CSAT Paper-II, highlighting the deduction rules for each paper.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>General Studies Paper-I<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Total Marks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 200<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Total Questions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 100<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Marks Per Question:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Negative Marking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 1\/3rd of 2 marks = <\/span><b>0.66 marks deducted per wrong answer<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Example Calculation:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you attempt <\/span><b>80 questions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and 10 are wrong:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"4\"><b>Marks lost due to negative marking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 10 \u00d7 0.66 = <\/span><b>6.6 marks deducted<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>CSAT Paper-II (Qualifying Paper)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Total Marks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 200<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Total Questions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 80<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Marks Per Question:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2.5<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Negative Marking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 1\/3rd of 2.5 marks = <\/span><b>0.83 marks deducted per wrong answer<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Decision-Making Questions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> No negative marking<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example Calculation: If you attempt <\/span><b>60 questions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and 8 are wrong:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"3\"><b>Marks lost due to negative marking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 8 \u00d7 0.83 = <\/span><b>6.64 marks deducted<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <\/span><b>CSAT is qualifying in nature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, candidates must score <\/span><b>at least 66 marks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out of 200 to pass.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>How to Calculate Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To calculate <\/span><b>negative marking in UPSC Prelims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, follow these steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 1: Identify Correct and Incorrect Answers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count the number of <\/span><b>correct, incorrect, and unattempted<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Step 2: Calculate Marks for Correct Answers: General Studies Paper:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Each correct answer gives <\/span><b>+2 marks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><b>CSAT Paper:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Each correct answer gives <\/span><b>+2.5 marks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 3: Calculate Marks Lost Due to Negative Marking<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>General Studies Paper:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Incorrect Answers \u00d7 0.66 = Total negative marks deducted<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>CSAT Paper: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorrect Answers \u00d7 0.83 = Total negative marks deducted<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 4: Find the Final Score<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final Score = Marks from Correct Answers &#8211; Negative Marks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example Calculation for GS Paper-I:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Correct answers: <\/span><b>60 \u00d7 2 = 120 marks<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorrect answers: <\/span><b>10 \u00d7 0.66 = 6.6 marks deducted<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final Score: 120 &#8211; 6.6 = 113.4 marks<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CSAT_Negative_Marking_Important_Points\"><\/span><b>CSAT Negative Marking: Important Points<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CSAT Negative Marking: Important Points covers the penalty for incorrect answers in CSAT Paper-II, exceptions for certain questions, and strategies to minimize mark deductions.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>CSAT Paper-II is qualifying<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 You only need <\/span><b>33% marks (66 out of 200)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Decision-Making Questions do not have negative marking<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Attempt them freely.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High accuracy is crucial<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Since marks are deducted for wrong answers, avoid guesswork.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unattempted questions do not carry any penalty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 If unsure, leave them unanswered.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-5575\" style=\"width: 100%;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-107-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-5575 ml-slider has-dots-nav ms-theme-default-base\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"New Slideshow\" data-height=\"300\" data-width=\"700\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_5575\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_5575\">\n            <ul aria-live='off' class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5579 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" 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class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pocket-notes-website-400x180-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5580 msDefaultImage\" title=\"pocket-notes-website-400x180\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5581 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"web-site-banner-toppers-book.-400x180-1-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/upsc-cse-books\/toppers-handwritten-upsc-pyq-4-books\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/web-site-banner-toppers-book.-400x180-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5581 msDefaultImage\" title=\"web site banner toppers book. 400x180\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strategies_to_Avoid_Losing_Marks_Due_to_Negative_Marking\"><\/span><b>Strategies to Avoid Losing Marks Due to Negative Marking<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strategies to Avoid Losing Marks Due to Negative Marking include smart guessing, eliminating wrong options, and attempting only well-understood questions to minimize deductions. Some of the steps include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Attempt Only Confident Answers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <\/span><b>1\/3rd of the marks are deducted per wrong answer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, avoid guessing blindly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>\u00a0Use the Elimination Method: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If unsure, eliminate <\/span><b>wrong options<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve accuracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manage Time Wisely: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not rush through the paper. Take time to <\/span><b>analyze<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> questions carefully.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Focus on Accuracy Rather Than Attempts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is better to attempt <\/span><b>fewer questions with accuracy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than attempting many with errors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prioritize Decision-Making Questions in CSAT: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since they do not have negative marking, answer them confidently.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Mains_Penalty_Marks_Is_There_Negative_Marking\"><\/span><b>UPSC Mains Penalty Marks: Is There Negative Marking?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike Prelims, the <\/span><b>UPSC Mains exam does not have negative marking<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for incorrect answers. However, candidates must be aware of certain penalty situations:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indecipherable Handwriting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 If the examiner cannot read your answer, marks may be affected.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Irrelevant Answers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Writing off-topic responses may lead to lower scores.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Exceeding Word Limit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 While not directly penalized, excessive writing can reduce content clarity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><b>Conclusion<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding <\/span><b>negative marking in UPSC Prelims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential for a smart exam strategy. Both <\/span><b>General Studies Paper-I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>CSAT Paper-II<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have negative marking, so accuracy is more important than attempting a large number of questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By following a <\/span><b>well-planned approach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, candidates can <\/span><b>minimize negative marking, improve their scores, and clear the UPSC Prelims efficiently<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Avoid random guessing, practice previous year papers, and use elimination techniques to maximize accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Are you preparing for UPSC 2025? <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/prelims\/prelims-samadhaan-mentorship-2025?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=home_page&amp;utm_campaign=course\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Join IAShub&#8217;s UPSC coaching batches<\/b><\/a><b> to boost your preparation. Enroll now!<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=411&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Last 10 years UPSC Prelims Question Papers with answers pdf<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=423&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Important Top 100\u00a0 topics for Prelims 2025<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=1910&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC CSAT Math &amp; Reasoning Syllabus<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=1977&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>HOW TO PREPARE FOR CSAT<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Negative_Marking_in_UPSC_Prelims_FAQs\"><\/span><b>Negative Marking in UPSC Prelims FAQs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<style>#sp-ea-1989 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 300ms;}#sp-ea-1989.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-1989.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-1989.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-1989.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-1989.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 16px;}.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n  padding: 7px;\r\n  background: #fff;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n  font-size: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a .ea-expand-icon {\r\n  font-size: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a .ea-expand-icon {\r\n  margin-right: 0px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single{\r\n background: #fff;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.ea-expand a{\r\n  background: #cfe2ff !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion{\r\n  margin-bottom: 1rem;\r\n  margin-top: 1rem;\r\n}<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1742992346\"><div id=\"sp-ea-1989\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ea-active=\"ea-click\" data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"\" data-scroll-active-item=\"\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div class=\"ea-card ea-expand sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-19890\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse19890\" aria-controls=\"collapse19890\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-minus\"><\/i> What is the negative marking in UPSC Prelims?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse collapsed show\" id=\"collapse19890\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-1989\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-19890\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In UPSC Prelims, 1\/3rd of the marks allotted to a question are deducted for every wrong answer in both GS Paper-I and CSAT Paper-II.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-19891\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse19891\" aria-controls=\"collapse19891\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Does CSAT have a negative marking?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse19891\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-1989\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-19891\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, CSAT has negative marking, where 1\/3rd of the marks per question are deducted for incorrect answers, except for Decision-Making questions, which have no negative marking.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-19892\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse19892\" aria-controls=\"collapse19892\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Can I leave questions unattempted in UPSC Prelims?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse19892\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-1989\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-19892\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, candidates can leave questions unattempted in both GS Paper-I and CSAT, and no marks will be deducted for skipped questions.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-19893\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse19893\" aria-controls=\"collapse19893\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> What is the passing mark for CSAT?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse19893\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-1989\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-19893\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The CSAT paper qualifies, and candidates must score 33% (66 out of 200 marks) to pass, regardless of their GS Paper-I score.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-19894\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse19894\" aria-controls=\"collapse19894\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> How can I avoid losing marks due to negative marking?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse19894\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-1989\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-19894\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use the elimination method, attempt only well-understood questions, avoid blind guessing, and practice mock tests to improve accuracy.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understand negative marking in UPSC Prelims and how it affects your score. Learn about CSAT negative marking, how to calculate penalties, and the impact on UPSC Mains penalty marks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1990"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6394,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1990\/revisions\/6394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}