Nagaland TET – Foundation Exam
Topic: Marking Scheme
Purpose of this note – Quickly understand how marks are awarded and deducted, so you can plan your exam strategy accordingly.
1. Simple Explanation
- Total Paper: 30 multiple‑choice questions (MCQs)
- Marks per Question: +4 marks for a correct answer
- Negative Marking: –1 mark for a wrong answer
- No Mark for Unanswered: 0 marks if you leave a question blank
Why it matters
- Risk‑reward: Choosing an answer gives you +3 net marks (4‑1) if you’re wrong, but you lose 4 if you guess incorrectly.
- Time management: You can skip tough questions instead of risking negative marks.
2. Key Points (Quick Reference)
| Feature | Details | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Structure | 30 MCQs | 4 marks each |
| Scoring | Correct = +4 | +4 points |
| Penalty | Wrong = –1 | Loss of 1 point |
| Blank | No answer = 0 | Save for tough questions |
| Maximum Score | 30 × 4 = 120 marks | Aim for 80‑90% for a safe pass |
| Minimum Passing Marks | Usually 40% of total (≈48 marks) | Target >48 marks |
| Answer Sheet | Use the provided answer sheet; mark one option per question | Avoid double marks |
| Time Allotment | 1 hour 30 minutes | 3 minutes per question on average |
3. Worked Example
Suppose you attempt the following 10 questions:
| Q# | Your choice | Correct? | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | ✔️ | +4 |
| 2 | C | ❌ | –1 |
| 3 | — (blank) | — | 0 |
| 4 | B | ✔️ | +4 |
| 5 | D | ❌ | –1 |
| 6 | A | ✔️ | +4 |
| 7 | — (blank) | — | 0 |
| 8 | B | ✔️ | +4 |
| 9 | C | ❌ | –1 |
| 10 | D | ✔️ | +4 |
Total marks for these 10 questions
[ (4-1+0+4-1+4+0+4-1+4) = 15 \text{ marks} ]
Percentage (out of 40 marks for 10 questions)
[ \frac{15}{40} \times 100 = 37.5% ]
Take‑away
- 4 correct answers → 16 marks
- 3 wrong answers → –3 marks
- 3 blanks → 0 marks
If you had guessed on the 3 wrong questions, you would have earned only (3 \times 4 = 12) marks instead of 0, so guessing does give a net gain of +3 per guess. But you also risk a penalty of –1 if you’re wrong, so the expected value of guessing is +3, which is still positive. However, if your confidence in the answer is low, it might still be safer to skip.
4. Quick Revision Summary
- 30 MCQs – each worth +4 marks.
- Wrong answer – –1 mark (negative marking).
- Blank – 0 marks, no penalty.
- Max score: 120 marks.
- Pass mark: ~48 marks (40% of 120).
- Strategy tip:
- Answer all confident questions.
- Skip when unsure; you lose only 0 marks.
- If you must guess, choose the option you think is most likely – the expected value is +3.
- Keep track of time: ~3 min per question.
- Answer sheet: Mark one option per question; double‑marking loses the question automatically.
Use this cheat‑sheet while you’re studying or during mock tests to keep the marking rules fresh in your mind. Good luck!