Chandigarh PSC – Foundation & Exam Strategy
Topic: Marking Scheme
Why this matters
Knowing exactly how each question is counted will help you:
- Plan which questions to answer first
- Decide when to skip
- Estimate your score early in the exam
1. Simple Explanation
| Exam Stage | Paper | Total Marks | Marks per Correct | Marks per Wrong | Marks per Unattempted | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre‑lims | 60 MCQs | 60 | +1 | –0.25 | 0 | Yes |
| Mains | 4 Papers (Essay, GK, Reasoning, Language) | 120 (30 each) | +1 (per sub‑question) | 0 | 0 | No |
- Pre‑lims: 60 multiple‑choice questions; each correct answer earns 1 mark, each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
- Mains: 4 subjective papers; each paper is worth 30 marks. No negative marking – wrong answers do not cost you.
2. Key Points
| # | Point | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cut‑off is based on total marks | You need to know the approximate cut‑off for your cut‑off band. |
| 2 | Negative marking only in Pre‑lims | Avoid guessing blindly; try to be 100 % sure before selecting an answer. |
| 3 | Mains have no negative marking | It’s safe to attempt all questions, even if you’re unsure. |
| 4 | Paper‑wise weighting | Some papers (e.g., Essay) might be assessed with a different rubric, but overall they still add to 30 marks. |
| 5 | Scoring pattern | Pre‑lims score + Mains score = final mark. |
| 6 | Time allocation | 1 hour for Pre‑lims (≈1 min per question). 2 hrs for each Mains paper. |
| 7 | Cut‑off bands | Usually: 1st band 60 % (≈108 marks), 2nd band 45 % (≈81 marks). Check latest data for accuracy. |
3. Worked Example
Scenario
- Pre‑lims:
- Correct: 48
- Wrong: 6
- Unattempted: 6
- Mains (paper scores):
- Essay: 24
- GK: 26
- Reasoning: 22
- Language: 28
Step‑by‑step calculation
| Item | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Pre‑lims | (48 × 1) – (6 × 0.25) | 48 – 1.5 = 46.5 |
| Mains | 24 + 26 + 22 + 28 | 100 |
| Total | 46.5 + 100 | 146.5 |
Interpretation
- 146.5 marks out of 180 is well above the typical cut‑off (≈108).
- You would comfortably secure a position in the first cut‑off band.
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Stage | Total Marks | Correct | Wrong | Unattempted | Negative? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre‑lims | 60 | +1 | –0.25 | 0 | Yes |
| Mains | 120 (4 × 30) | +1 per sub‑question | 0 | 0 | No |
| Overall Total | 180 |
Remember:
- Pre‑lims – be accurate, not risky.
- Mains – attempt everything; no penalty for wrong.
- Cut‑off – keep an eye on the latest data; aim for at least 60 % overall for the first band.
Good luck, and may your marks reflect your hard work!