CUET Negative Marking: Tips to Avoid Losing Marks in 2025 Exam

Preparing for the CUET (Common University Entrance Test) can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. With thousands of students competing for admission into top undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across India, understanding the exam’s structure is crucial. One of the most common questions that often catches students off guard is “does CUET have negative marking?” To answer it, well yes! CUET has negative marking. 

Did you know? Research shows that many candidates lose up to 10-15% of their potential score due to negative marking. This highlights the importance of strategy and precision in the CUET 2025 exam. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about CUET negative marking system and how you can avoid costly mistakes.

What is Negative Marking in CUET?

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) employs a negative marking system to assess candidates more accurately. This scoring approach deducts marks for incorrect answers, discouraging guesswork and rewarding precision. The test comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided into sections that evaluate subject knowledge, logical reasoning, and general aptitude.

Here’s how it works:

• For every correct answer, you earn 5 marks.
• For every wrong answer, 1 mark is deducted.
• Unattempted questions do not affect your score.
• If more than one option is correct, 5 marks will be awarded to those who mark any of the correct options.
• If all options are correct, 5 marks will be awarded to everyone who attempts the question.
• If none of the options are correct, or the question is dropped, all candidates who attempt it will receive 5 marks.

Example of Negative Marking:

Sections with CUET Negative Marking in 2025

The CUET exam is divided into three main sections: Section IA, Section IB, Section II, and Section III, each assessing different skills. For the CUET UG exam, candidates need to answer 50 questions based on the subjects they have chosen, with a time limit of 60 minutes. On the other hand, CUET PG candidates must answer a total of 75 questions within 90 minutes.

Cuet negative marking is applicable across all these sections, making a strategic approach essential to avoid losing marks. Here’s a breakdown of each section:

Section IA: Language Test

This section evaluates your linguistic abilities and consists of languages to choose from. Questions are based on reading comprehension passages, including literary, narrative, and vocabulary-based topics.

Section IB: Additional Language

This section offers additional language options. It focuses on grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension to test your command over the chosen language.

Section II: Domain-Specific Test

This section assesses your knowledge of specific subjects, such as mathematics, physics, or history. Pick and choose from the list as per your stream. 

Section III: General Test (Optional)

This section evaluates your general knowledge, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. Questions cover topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and general awareness.

Common Mistakes Leading to Negative Marking in CUET

Here are some of the most common mistakes leading to negative marking in cuet ug and negative marking in cuet pg:

1. Guessing Without Logic

Hoping for random guesses may lose you precious marks. Eliminate options logically first before writing an answer.

2. Misreading Questions

Under pressure, students tend to misread what the question is actually looking for. For instance, leaving out a word like “NOT” can entirely alter meaning.

3. Mismanaging Time

Hurrying through questions is likely to result in hasty mistakes. Taking too long over difficult questions also leaves insufficient time for simpler ones, and this makes mistakes more probable.

4. Poor Option Analysis

Some questions have close alternatives intended to confuse you. Failure to properly analyse them may lead to incorrect answers.

Tips to Avoid Losing Marks Due to Negative Marking in CUET 2025

Here are practical strategies to minimise your score loss by cuet negative marking:

1. Read Questions Carefully: Take a pause before reading the question completely and then answer it. Check for keywords such as “always,” “not,” and “except.”

2. Eliminate Wrong Options: Use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices. This increases your chances of picking the correct answer.

3. Avoid Blind Guessing: If you’re unsure about an answer, skip it instead of guessing randomly. Negative marking makes blind guesses risky.

4. Manage Your Time Wisely: Allow time for every section and maintain it. Don’t waste too much time on one question.

5. Mark Answers with Confidence: Only tick an answer if you’re fairly certain. Guessing answers can lose you valuable marks.

6. Practice Mock Tests: Solve mock tests that simulate the real exam environment. This helps you build familiarity with the cuet negative marking system and improves time management. Check oswal.io for online mock tests for all CUET students.

7. Know the Exam Pattern Well: Get familiar with CUET question distribution, syllabus, and marking scheme. This assists in forming a more focused preparation plan.

8. Focus on Strong Areas: Prioritise areas or topics in which you feel sure, allowing for greatest precision and lesser deductions.

How to Prepare for Negative Marking in CUET?

A solid preparation strategy is key to tackling cuet negative marking effectively. Here’s how to get started:

1. Emphasis on Accuracy: Prioritise answering questions accurately. Rather than trying all questions, focus on answering the ones you are sure about to prevent losing marks through mistakes.

2. Prioritise Key Issues: Pin down the subjects with the most weightage in the CUET syllabus and master them. Through mastery in these subjects, you can build a strong score base.

3. Analyse Mock Test Results: After every mock test, go through the errors you committed very carefully. Learn the reasons for them and spend time working on those weak areas.

4. Learn Time Management: When taking mock tests, mimic real exam situations by keeping to time constraints in each section. This will prevent last-minute rushes and reduce errors on the actual exam.

5. Utilise Credible Study Material: Choose study resources like Oswal Publishers’ CUET question banks and sample papers for targeted preparation. These materials are designed to enhance both accuracy and confidence.

Benefits of Avoiding CUET Negative Marking

Minimising cuet negative marking not only boosts your score but also builds confidence. Here are the advantages:

• Higher overall score: Not making unnecessary deductions can get you a much higher score.

• Improved rank: A higher score improves your chances of securing admission into your desired university.

• Boost to confidence: Minimising errors will make you feel more confident during the test.

• Improved time management: Practicing to prevent negative marking enables you to adopt a structured and effective strategy.

• Competitive advantage: By not getting penalised, you are ahead of competitors who may lose points because of negligence.

• Improved conceptual understanding: Emphasis on accuracy will result in improved comprehension of subjects, which can benefit long-term academic achievement.

Conclusion

Cuet negative marking is not something to fear but to prepare for strategically. By understanding the system, avoiding common mistakes, and focusing on accuracy, you can minimise score deductions and maximise your performance. Remember, practise is the key to success. Start solving mock tests and question banks from Oswal Publishers today to build your confidence and ace the CUET 2025 exam!

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