Penalty for Marking Multiple Options in IIT JAM Physics Exam

Introduction: The IIT JAM (Joint Admission Test for M.Sc.) is a national level entrance exam conducted for admission to various postgraduate programs in science and technology offered by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). In the Physics section of the exam, it is important for candidates to carefully read the instructions and choose the correct answer for each question.

Penalty for Marking Multiple Options: The IIT JAM Physics exam follows a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format, where each question has four options (A, B, C, D), and candidates are required to choose the correct option. However, there is a penalty for marking multiple options for a single question, as mentioned in the exam instructions. The penalty is as follows:

Negative Marking: For each question, if a candidate marks one or more incorrect options along with the correct option, then they will be awarded negative marks. The negative marking scheme for IIT JAM Physics exam is as follows:

- If the question carries 1 or 2 marks, then for each incorrect option selected, 1/3 mark will be deducted.
- If the question carries 3 marks, then for each incorrect option selected, 2/3 mark will be deducted.

It is important to note that if a candidate marks only the correct option or leaves the question unanswered, no marks will be deducted. The negative marking is implemented to discourage guesswork and ensure that candidates think carefully before marking their answers.

Example: Let's consider an example to understand the penalty for marking multiple options in the IIT JAM Physics exam:

Question: What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
Options:
A. 3 x 10^8 m/s
B. 2 x 10^8 m/s
C. 4 x 10^8 m/s
D. 1 x 10^8 m/s

If a candidate marks options A and B, which are both incorrect, then they will be awarded negative marks according to the negative marking scheme. For a 1 or 2 marks question, 1/3 mark will be deducted for each incorrect option selected. Therefore, in this case, 2/3 mark will be deducted.

Conclusion: In the IIT JAM Physics exam, marking multiple options for a single question leads to negative marking. Candidates should carefully read the instructions and choose the correct option to avoid penalty. It is advisable to eliminate incorrect options first and then select the most appropriate answer to minimize the chances of marking multiple options and incurring negative marks.