GS Paper I
100 questions · 200 marks
+2 for each correct answer · −⅔ for each incorrect answer
60 correct, 20 incorrect, 20 unattempted
120 − 13.333… = 106.67 marks
UPSC PRELIMS TOOL
UPSC negative marking calculator.
Check what you earned, what you lost, and where you stand. Choose GS Paper I, CSAT, or Other exam to set your own marking scheme, then enter your correct and incorrect answers.
Your estimated score
GS Paper I/ 200
0.00% of total marks
- Correct
- 0
- Incorrect
- 0
- Unattempted
- 100
- Marks earned
- +0.00
- Negative marks
- −0.00
- Questions attempted
- 0 / 100
- Answer accuracy (correct ÷ attempted)
- —
Enter your answer counts to see your score after negative marking.
Calculations use full precision. Scores are rounded to two decimal places.
For practice tests and answer-key estimates. Final marks depend on your exam’s official answer key and treatment of any deleted questions.
KNOW YOUR SCORE
How negative marking works
For UPSC Prelims, each incorrect answer costs one-third of the marks for a correct answer. In Other exam mode, you choose the penalty fraction. Unattempted questions earn 0 and have no penalty.
Marks per question = total marks ÷ number of questions
Score = (correct × marks per question) − (incorrect × marks per question × penalty fraction)
Score = (correct × marks per question) − (incorrect × marks per question × penalty fraction)
The UPSC presets use the full 1/3 fraction. Other exam mode uses the fraction or decimal you enter. Calculations keep full precision; displayed scores are rounded.
CSAT (Paper II)
80 questions · 200 marks
+2.5 for each correct answer · −⅚ for each incorrect answer
40 correct, 20 incorrect, 20 unattempted
100 − 16.666… = 83.33 marks
Other exam: 1/4 negative marking
150 questions · 300 marks
+2 for each correct answer · −0.5 for each incorrect answer
100 correct, 20 incorrect, 30 unattempted
200 − 10 = 190.00 marks
A few things to remember
What is the qualifying score for CSAT?
CSAT requires at least 33% of 200 marks, or 66 marks. The calculator compares your score before rounding with this threshold. Meeting it alone does not qualify you for Mains; your GS Paper I score must also meet the applicable cut-off.
Does negative marking apply to unattempted questions?
No. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. They are calculated automatically by subtracting your correct and incorrect answers from the paper’s total questions.
What if I marked more than one answer?
For UPSC Prelims, count that question as incorrect, even if one marked option is correct. UPSC applies the same one-third penalty to multiple answers. For another exam, follow its answer-marking rules.
Can my score be negative?
Yes. If the penalty for incorrect answers exceeds the marks earned from correct answers, this calculation returns a negative score.
How do I calculate for another exam?
Choose Other exam, enter the number of questions and total marks, then enter the negative marking fraction. For example, 1/4 and 0.25 both mean that an incorrect answer loses one quarter of that question’s marks. Use 0 when there is no negative marking. This mode assumes all questions carry equal marks.
Can I use this for UPSC Mains?
The UPSC presets are for the two Civil Services Preliminary papers. Mains uses written answers and a different marking scheme; this calculator is for exams with equal-mark questions and a fixed penalty for incorrect answers.