When it comes to cracking the UPSC Prelims, every mark matters — and so does every mistake. With negative marking in play, blind guessing can be dangerous. But smart guessing? That’s a whole different game. It’s not luck, it’s a learned skill, and in this post, we’ll explore how you can master it to maximize your score. Why Smart Guessing Matters Let’s face it — no one can know everything. The UPSC Prelims test not just your knowledge but also your analytical ability and decision-making under pressure. Often, you’ll face questions where you can’t recall the exact answer, but you…
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A question that haunts every UPSC aspirant a week before Prelims — “How many questions should I attempt?” Should you play it safe or take calculated risks? The truth is, there’s no fixed number. But there is a logic — based on your accuracy, confidence, and preparation style. Let’s break it down. 1. Understand the Scoring Structure Before deciding how many questions to attempt, you need to understand the stakes: Correct answer: +2 marks Wrong answer: –0.66 marks (1/3rd negative marking) Unattempted: 0 marks This means for every 3 incorrect guesses, you lose as much as one correct answer. …