How to Tackle Negative Marking in NEET MDS Exam

NEET MDS is an important exam for dental graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in dentistry. It is a competitive exam that assesses the candidate’s knowledge in various subjects related to dentistry. The exam comprises 240 multiple-choice questions, and each question carries 4 marks. However, there is also a negative marking system in place, which means that for every incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted.

It is critical to answer as many questions correctly as possible in the examination, but it is also essential to limit your incorrect questions. If you can master this balance, you will avoid unnecessary stress and fare much better in NEET PG MDS.

Here are some tips that can help you in this regard:

Avoid Guesswork

Don’t guess the answers if you are not sure about them. If you have no idea about the answer, it is better to leave the question blank, as guessing can lead to negative markings. It is essential to note that guessing may work in your favor if you can eliminate one or two options and have a reasonable chance of getting the answer right. However, if you have no idea about the answer, it is better to leave the question blank.

Read the questions and options carefully

Reading the questions as well as the options properly is essential to avoid making mistakes. Sometimes, the questions are lengthy and contain multiple parts, and candidates may misread or misunderstand them, which can lead to negative markings. Therefore, it is important to read the questions carefully and understand what is being asked before attempting the answer. Pay close attention to words such as “except”, “but”, and “not”. These are the keywords that could affect the answers.

Regular practice of mock tests is a sure-shot method to incorporate this habit. Attempt the daily NEET MDS mock tests on PULP to get a good grip on the types of questions asked in the NEET MDS. Solving the mock tests will not only get you into a habit of reading the questions and options properly but will also improve your timing and accuracy over time.

Practice eliminating the wrong options

In a 1/4 negative marking system, it is always better to eliminate the wrong choices first and then arrive at the correct answer. This will undoubtedly assist you in dealing with negative markings in NEET MDS.

Here are a few things that you should keep a close eye on during the exam

• If an option is too extreme or too general, it is likely to be incorrect. For example, if a question asks for the most common cause of a disease, an option that says “all diseases have the same cause” is too general and can be eliminated.
• If an option does not address the question or is not related to the topic being discussed, it is likely to be incorrect.
• If you know the answer to a question or have a good understanding of the topic, you can use that knowledge to eliminate incorrect options. Similarly, if an option does not make logical sense or contradicts established knowledge, it can be eliminated.
• Physically crossing out options that you know are incorrect can help you focus on the remaining options and increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.

Only respond if you are certain. Simply doing this reduces your chances of receiving a negative marking. PULP’s “option elimination” feature allows you to cancel out the options before arriving at the final answer. Ruling out possibilities, increase your likelihood of being right to 50%.

Keep a track of time

Time management is crucial for NEET MDS, as it is a lengthy exam with a large number of questions. So, be cautious- neither be too overconfident nor waste too much time while selecting the answer. In the first scenario, you may end up choosing the wrong answer while in the second one, it will only lead to overthinking, stress, confusion, and mistakes. If you are not sure about the answer to a question, move on to the next question and come back to it later if you have time.

Get maximum answers right with revision

Last-minute revision is never recommended because it can cause unnecessary panic. It is preferable to revise on a regular basis so that the concepts and answers to practiced questions are fresh in your mind. Working on previous mistakes along with your revision can take your preparation to a whole another level. PULP’s daily revision, which is available to all users, can help you significantly improve your mistakes on a regular basis. PULP’s AI engine prioritizes past mistakes and presents NEET MDS practice questions that you got wrong while practicing.

Negative markings in NEET MDS can be a cause of worry for candidates, but by implementing the tips outlined in this blog, you can approach the exam with confidence, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and maximize your score. Focus on improving accuracy and time and most importantly, read the questions carefully. Practice enough NEET MDS questions on PULP to be exam ready. By keeping these points in mind, you can increase your chances of getting a good score and minimize the risk of negative marking. All the best!