Is there any negative marking in the AFCAT exam?

Yes, there is negative marking in the AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) exam. Negative marking means that for every incorrect answer, a certain number of marks will be deducted from the total score. This is done to discourage random guessing and to ensure that candidates provide accurate and well-thought-out answers. Understanding the negative marking scheme is crucial for test-takers to maximize their scores.

Why is there negative marking in the AFCAT exam?

Negative marking serves several purposes in the AFCAT exam:

1. Encourages accuracy: By imposing a penalty for incorrect answers, the exam aims to encourage candidates to answer only those questions they are confident about. This helps in maintaining the overall quality of responses and ensures that candidates do not randomly guess and provide inaccurate answers.

2. Evaluates knowledge and understanding: With negative marking, candidates are compelled to think critically and evaluate their knowledge and understanding of the subject matter before answering. This helps in assessing the true depth of a candidate's knowledge and their ability to apply it effectively.

3. Minimizes the impact of lucky guesses: Without negative marking, candidates may be tempted to guess answers randomly, hoping to get lucky and improve their scores. By deducting marks for incorrect answers, the exam ensures that candidates cannot rely solely on guesswork and luck to secure a good score.

What is the negative marking scheme in the AFCAT exam?

The negative marking scheme in the AFCAT exam is as follows:

1. For every incorrect answer, one-third (1/3) of the marks allotted to that question will be deducted.

2. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions. Candidates can choose to skip a question if they are unsure of the correct answer without incurring any penalty.

3. The total marks deducted for incorrect answers are subtracted from the total marks obtained to calculate the final score.

Example:

Suppose the AFCAT exam consists of 100 questions, with each question carrying 3 marks. If a candidate answers 80 questions correctly, leaves 10 questions unattempted, and answers 10 questions incorrectly, the calculation of their final score will be as follows:

Total marks obtained for correct answers = 80 * 3 = 240 marks
Total marks deducted for incorrect answers = 10 * (3/3) = 10 marks

Final score = Total marks obtained - Total marks deducted = 240 - 10 = 230 marks

Conclusion

In conclusion, the AFCAT exam does have negative marking. This scheme is in place to promote accuracy, evaluate knowledge and understanding, and minimize the impact of lucky guesses. Candidates should be mindful of this negative marking scheme and answer only those questions they are confident about to maximize their scores.