# Exam Score Calculator + Guessing Strategy

> Calculate your exam score with negative marking for SSC CGL, CHSL, GD, IBPS, SBI, RRB NTPC, Group D, UPSC Prelims, NEET, JEE, CUET and CTET, and see when guessing helps.

Enter your right and wrong answers to get your **score with negative marking** for any major exam, then see the **guessing maths**: when a guess adds marks on average and when it costs you.

Use the free tool here: https://saraltools.in/exam-score-calculator/

## Marking schemes of popular exams

| Exam | Questions | Right | Wrong |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SSC CGL / CHSL Tier 1 | 100 | +2 | −0.5 |
| SSC GD Constable | 80 | +2 | −0.25 |
| IBPS / SBI PO and Clerk Prelims | 100 | +1 | −0.25 |
| RRB NTPC / Group D | 100 | +1 | −1/3 |
| UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 | 100 | +2 | −0.66 |
| UPSC CSAT | 80 | +2.5 | −0.83 |
| NEET UG | 180 | +4 | −1 |
| JEE Main | 75 | +4 | −1 |
| CUET UG (per subject) | 50 | +5 | −1 |
| CTET | 150 | +1 | 0 |

Schemes are taken from recent notifications and can change. Check your exam's current notification.

## The maths of guessing

```
Expected marks per guess = (marks for right ÷ options left) − (penalty × wrong options left ÷ options left)
```

In SSC CGL (+2, −0.5, 4 options), a pure guess is worth +0.125 marks on average, because the chance of being right (1 in 4) pays more than the expected penalty. In RRB and UPSC Prelims the penalty is exactly one-third, so a pure guess is worth zero on average, but ruling out just one option makes it +0.22 marks per question in UPSC. That is why "eliminate, then guess" works and blind guessing does not.

## Use it after the answer key

1. Download your response sheet and the official answer key.
2. Count right, wrong and unattempted questions.
3. Enter them here with the exam selected, and compare with last year's cut-off in the target box.

Log every mock test in the [mock test tracker](https://saraltools.in/mock-test-tracker/) to see whether your accuracy is improving.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the negative marking in SSC CGL?

SSC CGL Tier 1 gives 2 marks for each right answer and deducts 0.5 for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions get zero.

### Should I guess when there is negative marking?

It depends on the penalty and the number of options. In SSC CGL (4 options, quarter penalty) a pure random guess gains a little on average. In IBPS and SBI (5 options, quarter penalty) and in RRB and UPSC Prelims (4 options, one-third penalty), a pure guess gains nothing on average, but if you can rule out even one option, guessing becomes profitable. The table on this page shows the exact numbers.

### How do I calculate marks from the answer key?

Open your response sheet, compare each answer with the official key, and count right, wrong and unattempted questions. Enter the counts here. Some exams also apply normalization across shifts, so your final marks can differ slightly.

### Is UPSC Prelims negative marking one-third?

Yes. Each wrong answer deducts one-third of the marks for that question: 0.66 for GS Paper I (2 marks per question) and 0.83 for CSAT (2.5 marks per question).

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Last updated: 2026-11-01

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