CUET Marking Scheme 2026: Is there Negative Marking in CUET Exam?

One of the most asked questions by CUET 2026 aspirants is: Is there any negative marking in CUET? The answer to this question is a resounding yes. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has incorporated negative marking in CUET 2026. According to the marking scheme, candidates will be awarded +5 marks for every correct answer and will be deducted 1 mark for every wrong answer. This marking scheme will be applicable to all sections: Language, Domain Specific Subjects, and General Test. This marking scheme will help you develop an effective strategy to score well in CUET 2026.

Official CUET Marking Scheme 2026

The CUET 2026 marking scheme aims to provide fair assessment to all candidates and also discourage random guessing. Here’s a comprehensive list of how your answers will be marked:

Essential Note: If any of the questions are skipped or are found to be incorrect by the NTA, all the students who attempted those questions will be awarded +5 marks irrespective of the options chosen by them.

How CUET Negative Marking Affects Your Score

It is important to comprehend the implications of negative marking, as it is a critical part of your preparation as well as your results. Although losing 1 mark per incorrect response may not be a huge penalty, it has important implications from a mathematical as well as a psychological perspective.

• Mathematical Impact: When you respond to a question incorrectly, it is not just a loss of 1 mark, but it is a loss of 6 marks of potential as well, as the mark lost by attempting the wrong option could have actually been gained as +5 if the option was correct. Suppose, for instance, you answered 5 questions incorrectly, thereby losing 5 marks. If, however, those 5 questions had been answered correctly, gaining 5 * 5 = 25 marks, there is a difference of 30 marks between the two situations.
  
• Psychological Impact: The consequence of getting wrong answers is that it creates pressure during exams, thereby affecting the decisions taken by the student. Some students are extremely careful, while others are extremely reckless while attempting the exams. The trick lies in being perfectly poised between being confident and being extremely careful. Remember, in competitive exams like CUET, where the margin is extremely low, losing as few as 2-3 marks, owing to negative marking, could cost you your percentile as well as your spot in your dream university.
  
• Percentile Impact: Remember, the CUET results are not based merely on the marks obtained by the student but are calculated based on the percentile as well. This means your results are being compared to all the other results obtained by the students who appeared in the exam. Remember, in universities like Delhi University, where the cut-off is extremely high, losing as few as 1-2 marks could cost you your spot in the university of your dreams. While 245 could be higher than 240, it could also be the difference between being in the top percentile or not being in it at all.

Also read: Is Maths Compulsory for Admission in Delhi University (DU)?

How to Calculate Your CUET Raw Score?

Once the answer key for CUET 2026 is released by the NTA, you can calculate your raw score using the following formula:

Total Score = (C x 5) – (I x 1)

Where:

• C is the number of Correct Answers.
• I is the number of Incorrect Answers.
• Unattempted questions will be awarded 0 marks. No penalty is charged.

For example:

If you have attempted 50 questions in a particular subject:

• Correct Answers (C) = 42
• Incorrect Answers (I) = 8
• Unattempted questions (Unattempted) = 0

Total Score = (42 x 5) – (8 x 1)

= 210 – 8 = 202 marks

CUET PG vs UG Marking: Key Differences

Though the CUET PG and CUET UG exams both follow a negative marking policy, there are some differences between them, as mentioned below:

CUET UG (Undergraduate):

• Correct Answer: +5 marks
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
• Total marks per subject: 250 marks
• Number of questions: 50 per subject

CUET PG (Postgraduate):

• Correct Answer: +4 marks
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
• Total marks: 300 marks
• Number of questions: 75 questions

The difference between the two exams lies in the fact that CUET PG awards 4 marks per correct answer, whereas CUET UG awards 5 marks per correct answer. However, the penalty per incorrect answer remains the same in both exams at -1 mark each. This difference is important while searching for the ‘CUET marking scheme’ online.

Pros and Cons of Negative Marking

The negative marking policy of CUET is beneficial in many aspects, but it also comes with its share of problems:

Pros:

• Discourages Random Guessing: The penalty helps students avoid random guessing while answering the questions.
• Rewards Accuracy Over Quantity: The penalty encourages students to be more accurate while answering the questions rather than attempting all the questions randomly.
• Creates Fair Competition: By deducting marks for wrong answers, the system creates a level playing field where well-prepared students are rewarded accordingly.

Cons:

• Increases Exam Pressure: The fear of losing marks only adds to the stress, which might affect the candidate’s performance.
• Punishes Genuine Mistakes: Even a small calculation mistake or a wrong reading of the questions leads to the loss of marks, which is unfair for well-prepared students.
• Discourages Educated Guessing: At times, the process of elimination of wrong answers and a well-educated guess might be required, but the penalty might discourage students from doing so.

Despite the challenges, the negative marking system is a part of the CUET evaluation process, which aims at finding students with sound knowledge of the subjects and strong analytical skills.

Conclusion & Final Tips

The CUET 2026 includes a negative marking system, a fact that is definite. This is a fact that each candidate must be aware of. The standard CUET marking scheme of adding 5 marks for the right answer and subtracting 1 mark for the wrong answer applies to each of the sections. Knowing the CUET penalty system is not only about being aware of the facts ; it’s about utilizing this knowledge in a manner that helps you achieve the maximum possible score or percentile.

Key Takeaways for CUET 2026 Candidates:

• Accuracy is more important than speed – getting 40 questions correct is far more important than getting 50 questions correct but ending up with 10 incorrect answers
• Only attempt questions in which you are sure of the correct answer – if unsure, it’s better to leave the question blank than making a random guess
• Practice as many mock tests as possible – this will give you a sense of whether it’s better to attempt or leave a question blank
• Apply the elimination method – if you are sure of eliminating 2-3 options, it becomes more beneficial to take a guess
• Calculate your score – post the exam, use the CUET answer key to calculate your performance

It’s important to remember that in exams as competitive as CUET, where lakhs of students are vying for a limited number of seats in top central universities, every single mark counts. The difference between getting selected or being rejected lies in just a few marks. Master the marking scheme, prepare strategically, and approach the exam with a positive yet practical mindset.

Good luck with CUET 2026!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Is there any negative marking in CUET 2026?

Ans: Yes, there is negative marking in CUET 2026. For every wrong response, 1 mark will be deducted from the total marks obtained by the student. +5 marks are awarded for every correct response, while no marks are deducted for any unattempted questions.

2. Is the marking scheme of CUET PG the same as CUET UG?

Ans: No, the marking scheme of CUET PG is different from CUET UG. +5 marks are awarded for every correct response in CUET UG, while -1 marks are deducted for every wrong response, whereas +4 marks are awarded for every correct response in CUET PG, while -1 marks are deducted for every wrong response.

3. Is Jaipur one of the CUET exam centers?

Ans: Yes, Jaipur is one of the CUET exam centers. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts CUET exams in 306+ cities in India, including Jaipur, Rajasthan.

4. What if a question is removed from the CUET exam?

Ans: In case the NTA removes a question or finds the question to be incorrect, all the candidates who attempted the particular question will be awarded +5 marks irrespective of the option they have chosen.

—

For more information about CUET 2026, you can refer to the official website of the NTA at cuet.nta.nic.in