Is there negative marking in the IIT JAM Mathematics Exam?

Yes, there is negative marking in the IIT JAM (Joint Admission Test for Masters) Mathematics Exam. The exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for admission to their M.Sc., Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., and M.Sc.-Ph.D. dual degree programs.

Details of Negative Marking:

- For Section A (Multiple Choice Questions - MCQs), there is a negative marking of 1/3 marks for each incorrect answer.
- For Section B (Multiple Select Questions - MSQs), there is no negative marking. However, only the correct answers will be awarded marks.
- For Section C (Numerical Answer Type Questions - NATs), there is no negative marking.

Explanation:

The IIT JAM Mathematics Exam consists of three sections: Section A, Section B, and Section C.

Section A:
- Section A comprises of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), where each question has four options and only one of them is correct.
- For every incorrect answer, 1/3 marks will be deducted from the total marks obtained.
- If a candidate leaves a question unanswered, no marks will be deducted.

Section B:
- Section B includes Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), where each question may have one or more correct options.
- Marks are awarded only if all the correct options are selected and none of the incorrect options are selected.
- There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in this section.

Section C:
- Section C consists of Numerical Answer Type Questions (NATs), where the answers are numerical values.
- There is no negative marking for incorrect answers in this section.
- Candidates need to enter the answer using the virtual numeric keypad provided on the computer screen.

Conclusion:

In the IIT JAM Mathematics Exam, negative marking is applicable only for Section A (MCQs). Each incorrect answer in this section leads to a deduction of 1/3 marks. However, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers in Section B (MSQs) and Section C (NATs). It is important for candidates to carefully evaluate their knowledge and attempt only those questions for which they are confident about the correct answer to minimize the negative marking impact on their overall score.