NEET-PG FAQ
Is there negative marking in NEET-PG?
Yes, NEET-PG has negative marking. Every incorrect answer deducts 1 mark, while every correct answer earns 4 marks, and questions left unanswered score 0. This is a 25% penalty, meaning one wrong answer wipes out a quarter of the marks a correct answer would have given. On the NEET-PG 2026 paper of 180 questions, the maximum score is 720 marks, so careless guessing can pull a candidate down several thousand ranks in the tightly packed middle band. The negative marking rule has stayed unchanged for years; what changed in 2026 is the question count, cut from 200 to 180, which lowered the maximum from 800 to 720. Because the exam runs in five time-bound sections that cannot be revisited once closed, the decision to attempt a doubtful question has to be taken inside each section. A blind guess is statistically worth it only when you can rule out at least one or two of the four options first.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Clinically reviewed by Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS
Is there negative marking in NEET-PG?
Yes, NEET-PG has negative marking. Every incorrect answer deducts 1 mark, while every correct answer earns 4 marks, and questions left unanswered score 0. This is a 25% penalty, meaning one wrong answer wipes out a quarter of the marks a correct answer would have given. On the NEET-PG 2026 paper of 180 questions, the maximum score is 720 marks, so careless guessing can pull a candidate down several thousand ranks in the tightly packed middle band. The negative marking rule has stayed unchanged for years; what changed in 2026 is the question count, cut from 200 to 180, which lowered the maximum from 800 to 720. Because the exam runs in five time-bound sections that cannot be revisited once closed, the decision to attempt a doubtful question has to be taken inside each section. A blind guess is statistically worth it only when you can rule out at least one or two of the four options first.
Yes, NEET-PG has negative marking. Every incorrect answer deducts 1 mark, while every correct answer earns 4 marks, and questions left unanswered score 0. This is a 25% penalty, meaning one wrong answer wipes out a quarter of the marks a correct answer would have given. On the NEET-PG 2026 paper of 180 questions, the maximum score is 720 marks, so careless guessing can pull a candidate down several thousand ranks in the tightly packed middle band. The negative marking rule has stayed unchanged for years; what changed in 2026 is the question count, cut from 200 to 180, which lowered the maximum from 800 to 720. Because the exam runs in five time-bound sections that cannot be revisited once closed, the decision to attempt a doubtful question has to be taken inside each section. A blind guess is statistically worth it only when you can rule out at least one or two of the four options first.
Key details
- Correct answer: +4 marks.
- Incorrect answer: -1 mark, a 25% penalty relative to a correct answer.
- Unanswered question: 0 marks, no penalty.
- Maximum score in 2026: 720 marks across 180 questions.
- The rule is applied automatically per question; there is no cap on how many marks negative marking can subtract.
- Sections close permanently, so a wrong answer cannot be revised once its section ends.
Sources
- NBEMS NEET-PG exam page and Information Bulletin 2026 (official): Checked 15 July 2026. https://natboard.edu.in/viewnbeexam?exam=neetpg
- Careers360: NBEMS revises NEET-PG 2026 to 180 questions, single shift, marking scheme: Checked 15 July 2026. https://news.careers360.com/neet-pg-exam-pattern-2026-number-of-questions-revised-total-new-changes-form-price-nbems-registration-date-latest-news-today
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is deducted for a wrong answer in NEET-PG?
One mark per incorrect answer. Since a correct answer is worth 4 marks, the penalty is 25% of a correct response. Unanswered questions lose nothing.
Is it worth guessing in NEET-PG?
Only after elimination. With four options and a 1-mark penalty, a pure random guess is on average neutral, but ruling out one or two options tilts the odds in your favour. Blind guessing across many questions tends to cost marks.
What is the NEET-PG marking scheme?
Plus 4 for correct, minus 1 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered, over 180 questions for a maximum of 720 marks. See the NEET-PG marking scheme page for the full breakdown.
Did the negative marking change in 2026?
No. The plus-4, minus-1 rule stayed the same. Only the question count dropped from 200 to 180, which lowered the maximum score from 800 to 720.
How many marks can negative marking take away?
There is no separate limit. Each wrong answer removes 1 mark independently, so the total loss depends purely on how many questions you attempt incorrectly.
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