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Negative Marking Score Calculator

Work out your test score with negative marking, such as ECAT's +4 for right and −1 for wrong, and see when a guess is worth making.

Rules last checked 25 October 2026Every step shown

Your numbers are saved in this browser.

Questions left blank score nothing.

Score

262 of 400

Percentage
65.5%
Marks lost to wrong answers
18
Left blank
12

70 right and 18 wrong out of 100 scores 262 of 400 (65.5%). A guess is worth making when you're more than 20% likely to be right.

How it's worked out

  1. Right70 × 4280
  2. Wrong18 × −1−18
  3. Score280 − 18262 of 400
  • Check your test's current marking scheme in its official notice; schemes change.

The formula

Score = right × marks per right − wrong × penalty per wrong

Worked example

In a 100-question test at +4 and −1, 70 right and 18 wrong (12 blank) scores 280 − 18 = 262 out of 400: 65.5%.

Questions people ask

How is negative marking calculated?

Marks for right answers minus the penalty for wrong ones; blank answers score nothing. 70 right and 18 wrong at +4/−1 is 280 − 18 = 262.

Should I guess with negative marking?

Only if you're more likely to be right than the penalty makes worthwhile. At +4/−1, a guess pays off on average when you're more than 20% likely to be right. With four options, even a blind guess is 25% likely to be right, so it already pays on average; ruling out one option raises that to 33%.

Does MDCAT have negative marking?

Check the current year's notice from the testing body; marking schemes change.

Formula and rules last checked 25 October 2026Written and tested by the CalculatorDex teamReport a problem