Negative Marking in Lok Sewa: How to Calculate Your Score
Lok Sewa negative marking is 20% of a question's marks. See the rule for Nayab Subba, Kharidar, Section Officer and Computer Operator, with examples.
In Lok Sewa MCQ papers, every wrong answer loses 20% of the marks for that question. A 2-mark question loses 0.4. A 1-mark question loses 0.2. An unanswered question loses nothing.
This guide shows the rule for each exam, how to calculate your score, and when guessing helps you. The numbers come from the official PSC syllabus.
The Negative Marking Rule
The PSC syllabus says that for each wrong answer in an objective (MCQ) paper, 20 percent of the marks of that question is deducted. If you do not answer, you get no marks and no deduction.
Other MCQ rules from the same syllabus:
- Write answers in capital letters: A, B, C or D. Small letters or any other mark can cancel the whole answer sheet.
- No calculator is allowed in MCQ papers.
Negative Marking by Exam
| Exam and paper | Questions | Marks each | Penalty per wrong answer | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nayab Subba, Stage I | 50 | 2 | −0.4 | 45 out of 100 |
| Kharidar, Stage I | 50 | 2 | −0.4 | 45 out of 100 |
| Section Officer, Stage I | 100 | 1 | −0.2 | 45 out of 100 |
| Computer Operator, Paper I | 50 | 2 | −0.4 | 40 out of 100 |
Negative marking applies to the MCQ papers only. Subjective papers, such as Stage II and Computer Operator Paper II, have no negative marking.
For Nayab Subba, Kharidar and Section Officer, Stage I is a screening test. Its marks do not count toward your final result. You only need to reach the pass mark.
How to Calculate Your Score
Use this formula:
Score = (correct answers × marks per question) − (wrong answers × penalty)
Unanswered questions are not part of the formula.
Example 1: Nayab Subba Stage I
You attempt 40 of 50 questions. 34 are correct and 6 are wrong.
- Marks from correct answers: 34 × 2 = 68
- Penalty: 6 × 0.4 = 2.4
- Score: 68 − 2.4 = 65.6 out of 100
Example 2: Attempt everything
You attempt all 50. 32 are correct and 18 are wrong.
- Marks from correct answers: 32 × 2 = 64
- Penalty: 18 × 0.4 = 7.2
- Score: 64 − 7.2 = 56.8 out of 100
Example 3: Section Officer Stage I
You attempt 80 of 100 questions. 60 are correct and 20 are wrong.
- Marks from correct answers: 60 × 1 = 60
- Penalty: 20 × 0.2 = 4
- Score: 60 − 4 = 56 out of 100
A simple shortcut
Because the penalty is 20%, 5 wrong answers cancel exactly 1 correct answer. This works for every exam in the table above.
When Should You Guess?
These papers give four options: A, B, C and D. Here is the math for a 2-mark question with a 0.4 penalty.
| How many options can you remove? | Chance of being right | Expected marks per guess |
|---|---|---|
| None (blind guess) | 1 in 4 (25%) | +0.2 |
| One option | 1 in 3 (about 33%) | +0.4 |
| Two options | 1 in 2 (50%) | +0.8 |
For a 1-mark question with a 0.2 penalty (Section Officer), the numbers are half of these: +0.1, +0.2 and +0.4.
The break-even point is a chance of 1 in 6 (about 17%). Above that, guessing is positive on average. A blind guess at 25% is only just above it.
What this means in practice:
- Remove wrong options first. Even one removed option raises your expected gain a lot.
- Blind guessing is not a plan. The average is small and the result can swing both ways.
- Do not guess a pile of questions you have not studied. Practice the units until you can remove options with confidence.
This is math, not a guarantee. Expected values describe the average over many questions. Your own exam can go better or worse.
Pass Mark vs Negative Marking
For Stage I of Nayab Subba, Kharidar and Section Officer, the pass mark is 45 out of 100. Here is what 45 looks like in a 50-question, 2-mark paper:
- 23 correct answers and 0 wrong = 46
- 25 correct and 5 wrong = 50 − 2 = 48
- 30 correct and 20 wrong = 60 − 8 = 52
So you do not need to be perfect. You need a safe number of correct answers and a low number of wrong ones. The pass mark is a minimum. Selection depends on the merit list, which is a different matter. Read pass mark vs merit list cutoff for the difference.
How to Practice With Negative Marking
- Time yourself. Use the real time limit: 45 minutes for 50 questions, or 90 minutes for 100.
- Mark your confidence. After a mock, list the answers you guessed and check how many were right.
- Count wrong answers, not just your score. If you get many wrong, you may be guessing without eliminating options.
- Review every mistake. Learn why the right option is right.
Quizmandu Lok Sewa Prep mock exams for Nayab Subba, Kharidar, Section Officer and Computer Operator follow each exam's official pattern, so you practice with the same time limit and the same kind of penalty. Quick Drills are free, and each of these exams has 10 free mocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is negative marking in Lok Sewa?
It is 20% of the marks of a question. A 2-mark question loses 0.4 for a wrong answer. A 1-mark question loses 0.2. Unanswered questions lose nothing.
Is there negative marking in the Nayab Subba exam?
Yes, in Stage I only. Each wrong answer loses 0.4 marks. There is no negative marking in the subjective Stage II papers.
Is there negative marking in the Kharidar exam?
Yes. Kharidar Stage I has 50 questions of 2 marks each, and each wrong answer loses 0.4 marks. Unanswered questions lose nothing.
How do I calculate negative marking?
Multiply correct answers by the marks per question. Then subtract wrong answers multiplied by the penalty. For a 2-mark question with a 0.4 penalty: score = (correct × 2) − (wrong × 0.4).
How many wrong answers cancel one correct answer?
Five. Because the penalty is 20% of the question's marks, five wrong answers remove the marks of one correct answer.
Should I guess in the Lok Sewa exam?
Guessing after removing one or two options has a positive expected gain. A blind guess is only slightly positive on average and can swing either way. Study first, then guess only when you can remove options.
Is there negative marking in Computer Operator Paper II?
No. Paper II is subjective and has no negative marking. Negative marking applies to Paper I, the MCQ paper, at 0.4 per wrong answer.
Final Words
Negative marking is simple once you see the numbers: 20% of the question's marks, 5 wrong answers to cancel 1 correct one. Use elimination, avoid blind guessing, and practice with the real penalty so it feels normal on exam day.
Last checked: 1 November 2026, against the official PSC syllabus for Nayab Subba, Section Officer and Computer Operator. Kharidar follows the same 20% rule. Rules can change, so always read the latest notice at psc.gov.np. Quizmandu Lok Sewa Prep is an independent study app and is not part of Lok Sewa Aayog.