Negative Marking in NORCET: Score Formula, Guessing | NPrep

Yes, NORCET has negative marking. Each correct answer gets 1 mark and each wrong answer loses 1/3 mark in both Stage I and Stage II, while an unanswered question scores zero. So 120 correct and 30 wrong in Mains gives 110 out of 160. Guess only when you can rule out at least one option.

Updated 5 November 2026. The marking and tie-break rules are from AIIMS Notice 103/2026 (NORCET 11). Score ties and rank figures are NPrep's analysis of every row of NORCET 11 Result Notification 287/2026. The guessing values are standard probability.

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NORCET negative marking at a glance

Item	Rule	Source
Correct answer	+1 mark	Notice 103/2026
Wrong answer	Minus 1/3 mark	Notice 103/2026
Unanswered question	0	Notice 103/2026
Applies to	Stage I (100 questions) and Stage II (160 questions)	Notice 103/2026
First tie-breaker for rank	Fewer wrong answers in Stage II	Notice 103/2026
Mains qualifying marks	50% UR and EWS, 45% OBC, 40% SC and ST, after negative marking	Notice 103/2026

How is the NORCET score calculated?

Score = correct answers − (wrong answers ÷ 3). Unanswered questions add nothing and cost nothing.

Attempted	Correct	Wrong	Score
150 of 160	120	30	120 − 10 = 110
135 of 160	115	20	115 − 6.67 = 108.33
160 of 160	121	39	121 − 13 = 108
90 of 100 (Prelims)	72	18	72 − 6 = 66

The third row is the warning: attempting all 160 adds one correct answer over the first row but nine more wrong ones, and scores 2 marks less.

Should I guess in NORCET?

Only when you can rule out at least one option. With four options and a 1/3 penalty, the expected marks from a guess are:

Your situation	Chance of being right	Expected marks
Blind guess between 4 options	1 in 4	0 (break-even)
One option ruled out	1 in 3	+0.11
Two options ruled out	1 in 2	+0.33

So a blind guess gains nothing on average, while an informed guess between two options is worth taking. Skip a question you cannot touch at all.

Why do wrong answers matter more than the marks lost?

Because they also decide ties, and in NORCET almost everyone is tied with someone. Notice 103/2026 breaks equal Stage II marks first by fewer Stage II wrong answers, then by higher Stage I marks, fewer Stage I wrong answers, age (older first) and name.

NPrep read every row of the NORCET 11 Stage II result:

NORCET 11 Stage II	Value
Qualified candidates	10,613
Candidates who shared their exact score with at least one other	10,599
Candidates tied on the score at rank 1,000 (104.67 marks)	46
Candidates tied on the score at rank 3,000 (96 marks)	109
Candidates tied on the score at rank 5,000 (90.33 marks)	125
Candidates within one mark at or below rank 3,000's score	431

So near rank 3,000, three avoidable wrong answers (one mark) could cost around 400 places, and among the 109 candidates on exactly 96 marks, the one with fewer wrong answers ranked higher. See NORCET marks vs rank for every cycle.

How can I reduce negative marking in NORCET?

1. Use the elimination rule. Answer only when you can rule out at least one option; that is when a guess has positive value.
2. Read the keyword first. "Not", "except", "first" and "priority" cause most careless errors.
3. Track wrong answers in mocks, not just scores. Aim to cut your wrong-answer count in every mock.
4. Do not change answers without a reason. Change only when you find a clear error in your first reading.
5. Use the section time fully. Each section closes for good, so revisit marked questions before the timer ends instead of guessing at the end.

The NORCET Mains strategy covers section timing in detail.

Is negative marking the same in Prelims and Mains?

Yes. Both stages deduct 1/3 mark per wrong answer. The difference is what the score is used for. Prelims is qualifying, with a percentile cut-off, and only about 5 times the seats in each category are called to Mains. Mains marks decide your rank, and Mains wrong answers are the first tie-breaker. Stage I wrong answers are the third tie-breaker, so careless guessing in Prelims can still cost you rank later.

FAQs

Is there negative marking in NORCET?

Yes. Each wrong answer deducts 1/3 mark in both Stage I and Stage II, according to AIIMS Notice 103/2026. Unanswered questions get zero.

How many marks are cut for a wrong answer in NORCET?

One third of a mark. Three wrong answers cancel one correct answer.

Should I attempt all questions in NORCET?

No. A blind guess between four options has zero expected value. Attempt a question when you can rule out at least one option.

Does negative marking affect the NORCET tie-break?

Yes. Equal Stage II marks are broken first by fewer Stage II wrong answers, and later by fewer Stage I wrong answers. In NORCET 11, 10,599 of 10,613 qualified candidates shared their score with someone else.

Is there negative marking for unattempted questions in NORCET?

No. Only wrong answers are penalised.

What to read next

• Up: NORCET syllabus and exam pattern
• Across: NORCET result and tie-breaking and NORCET cut-off by category
• Practice: free NORCET mock test