CET
· Updated 2026-08-03
Negative Marking in Rajasthan Exams: When Should You Guess?
Rahul Verma
Maths & Reasoning Faculty · Mathematics & Reasoning
Quick answer
How 1/3 negative marking actually works in Rajasthan CET, PSI and LDC, plus the maths of when guessing is worth the risk.
How 1/3 negative marking actually works
Most Rajasthan exams — CET, PSI, LDC, VDO and RPSC papers — deduct one-third of a mark for each wrong answer. On a paper where each question carries one mark, three wrong answers cancel one correct answer.
The maths of guessing
With four options and no knowledge at all, you have a 25% chance of being right. Over four random guesses you would expect one correct (+1) and three wrong (−1), netting zero. Pure random guessing is therefore break-even, not harmful — but it is also pointless.
The calculation changes the moment you can eliminate options:
| Options eliminated | Chance of being right | Expected value per guess | Should you guess? |
|---|---|---|---|
| None (4 left) | 25% | 0.00 | Neutral — skip |
| One (3 left) | 33% | +0.11 | Yes |
| Two (2 left) | 50% | +0.33 | Definitely |
| Three (1 left) | 100% | +1.00 | Always |
Practical rules for exam day
- Eliminate first, then decide. The question is never "do I know this?" but "can I rule anything out?"
- Mark and return. Do not spend more than 45 seconds on a question in the first pass.
- Watch for absolute words. Options containing "always", "never" or "only" are more often wrong in factual papers.
- Do not change answers without a reason. Changes based on a specific recalled fact are usually right; changes based on anxiety usually are not.
Practise with the penalty on. A mock test that ignores negative marking inflates your score and teaches the wrong instincts. Our test series applies the real 1/3 deduction.
Related exam page: Rajasthan CET (Graduate Level) syllabus and exam pattern · test series from ₹35