NABARD Grade A Exam – Marking Scheme
Purpose of this page:
Understand how you are scored in the NABARD Grade A exam so you can plan your study and exam‑day strategy effectively.
1. Simple Explanation
| Item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 160 (one mark per question) |
| Question Type | Multiple‑choice, single‑correct (MCQs) |
| Correct Answer | +1 mark |
| Wrong Answer | 0 marks (no penalty) |
| Negative Marking | None – you’ll never lose marks for guessing |
| Time Limit | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
Bottom line: Answer everything. A wrong answer costs nothing, so there is no risk in guessing.
2. Key Points
| # | Point | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 mark per question | Straightforward – each correct answer nets you a mark. |
| 2 | No negative marking | Safe to attempt every question, even if you’re unsure. |
| 3 | Time per question | 120 min ÷ 160 ≈ 0.75 min ≈ 45 seconds per question. |
| 4 | Answer‑first strategy | Write down a quick answer before looking at options to avoid second‑guessing. |
| 5 | Elimination method | If you can eliminate 2 options, your odds jump from 25 % to 50 %. |
| 6 | Marking your sheet | Keep track of answered questions (e.g., tick‑box). |
| 7 | Final check | 5‑10 min left for a quick review of marked/blank questions. |
3. Worked Example
Scenario:
You answered 150 questions correctly and left 10 questions unanswered (you didn’t know the answer).
| Category | Count | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Correct | 150 | 150 × 1 = 150 |
| Incorrect / Unanswered | 10 | 0 |
| Total | 150 |
Result: 150 out of 160 marks → 93.75 %.
What if you guessed on all 10?
Since there's no penalty, guessing won’t hurt. If you guessed correctly on 3 out of 10, you’d still add 3 marks (total 153). If all 10 were wrong, you’d still stay at 150. The safest strategy is: always answer.
4. Quick Revision Summary
- Total Marks: 160 (1 mark/question, no negative marking).
- Time per Question: ~45 seconds.
- Answer Strategy:
- Write a quick answer first.
- Use elimination to narrow choices.
- Guess if unsure – no penalty.
- During Exam:
- Tick every answered question.
- Reserve last 5–10 min for a rapid review.
- Post‑Exam:
- If you had unanswered questions, you could have guessed — you never lose by answering.
Final Tip
Practice with a timer: Simulate the exam environment (120 min, 160 MCQs). Focus on speed and accuracy. The marking scheme rewards consistency, so aim to answer every question within the allotted time.