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Introduction
Here’s the truth no one tells you: scoring high in NEET PG or INI-CET isn’t about avoiding mistakes—it’s about making the legitimate ones. Every year, thousands of well-prepared doctors lose their rank because they fail to manage a silent killer: negative marking. What if you could flip that script? What if every uncertain question became a calculated opportunity, not a risk? In this blog, we’ll not tell you to “read carefully” or “revise more”—you already know that. Instead, we’ll break down the real difference-makers: understanding the marking scheme, strategic risk-taking, and time management methods that work under pressure. If you want your preparation to translate into a top rank—not just a decent attempt—read on. You’ll never look at your test paper the same way again.
In this blog, you will learn about:
- The difference between marking scheme of NEET PG and INI-CET
- What are the main reasons for negative marking in NEET PG
- How many questions to attempt in NEET PG
- What calculated risks are and how to take them
- How to manage time during NEET PG exam
What is the difference between the marking scheme of NEET PG and INI-CET?
Before diving into strategies to reduce negative marking in the NEET PG exam, let’s understand the marking scheme of the NEET PG and INI-CET exams. Both exams consist of 200 questions, but the scoring systems are different. In the NEET PG exam, you get +4 marks for a correct answer and -1 mark for a wrong one. This results in a maximum possible score of 800 in NEET-PG. On the other hand, INI-CET gives a +1 mark for a correct answer and deducts a 1/3 mark for an incorrect one. The total mark in INI-CET is 200. In both exams, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions.Knowing the marking scheme of NEET PG and INI-CET exams helps in planning better. During NEET PG preparation, you should be cautious with guessing because of the higher penalty for wrong answers. For INI-CET, the penalty is lighter, but still present.
Some students avoid attempting uncertain questions due to fear of negative marking. But playing too safe often leads to low scores. Instead, you need to balance accuracy with smart risk-taking.
What are the main reasons for negative marking in NEET PG / INI-CET?
1. Incomplete or Superficial Understanding of the concept.
- The student knows the topic vaguely but lacks depth.
- Misconceptions about similar-looking facts or conditions (e.g., confusing nephrotic vs. nephritic syndrome).
- It’s essential to look at each answer option carefully and consider why the examiner would have included it—often designed to challenge the understanding, reveal common misconceptions or test subtle distinctions.
2. Memory Errors
- Forgetting the right fact or recalling it incorrectly under stress.
- Confusing similar-pathophysiological diseases (e.g., lambert-eaton vs. myasthenia gravis).
The most effective way to minimize these errors is through repeated revision, active recall, and practicing with grand tests (GTs) to reinforce memory and improve retrieval under stress.
3. Time Pressure and Rushing
- Limited time per question leads to reading in a hurry.
- Skipping keywords like “not,” “except,” “most appropriate” leads to the opposite answer.
4. Comprehension Issues
Question Misunderstanding Overlooking critical terms such as “except,” “not,” “most accurate,” or “least likely” can lead to selecting precisely incorrect answers. Thorough reading is essential for proper interpretation.
5. Blind Guessing
When unsure, some students guess without eliminating wrong options. With negative marking, this often leads to penalties.
6. Overthinking or Second-Guessing
- Changing the correct answer to a wrong one due to doubt.
- Over-analyzing simple questions can lead to errors.
7. Similar Options or Tricky Framing
- Options that are close in meaning or detail (e.g., drug choices, diagnostic steps) can confuse even well-prepared students.
- Some questions are intentionally tricky to test clinical reasoning.
8. Strategic Errors
- Random Selection – Selecting answers without methodical elimination of options results in penalties and reduced accuracy.
- Absence of Methodical Process Attempting all questions without categorizing them by difficulty (easy-medium-difficult) reduces efficiency. Knowing when to defer challenging questions is an important skill.
9. Over-confidence
Failing to carefully analyze options due to presumed knowledge leads to preventable errors, particularly in clinical scenarios.
10. Poor Time management
Improper distribution of time can compromise performance through either.
Hastily answering questions and making careless error Spending excessive time on challenging questions early, reducing accuracy in later sections
How many questions to attempt in NEET PG?
Before we look at how many questions to attempt in NEET PG, we must understand a cardinal principle- Do Not Under Attempt. Here’s why!
Imagine you face 50 uncertain questions in NEET PG. Out of a 100, you weigh two possible strategies:
Option A: You skip all 50 questions. As a result, you score zero for those and effectively lose 50 potential marks.
Option B: You decide to take a calculated risk and attempt 40 out of the 50 questions. Out of these, you answer 20 correctly and 20 incorrectly. For each correct answer, you get 4 marks, totaling 80 marks (20 x 4). For the 20 incorrect answers, you lose 1 mark each, totaling -20 marks (20 x -1). In the end, you secure a net gain of 60 marks.
This shows how taking calculated risk can lead to a significant advantage and bring you closer to your dream rank in NEET PG, unlike playing it safe and walking away with nothing.
As for deciding how many questions to attempt in NEET-PG exam, here’s what Dr. Thameem Saif suggests.
“Focus on getting a positive score first-don’t stress about negatives yet. Aim for 190 ± 5, based on past exam trends.
Dr. Thameem Saif
But how does one take calculated risks and how to increase the number of questions to attempt in NEET PG/INI-CET.
How to increase number of attempts in NEET PG
Can you eliminate at least one option?
Dr. Thameem Saif suggests that any question where you can eliminate at least one option, is worth attempting. To illustrate this, let us look at the example below.
Q. Which of the following diseases exhibits fluctuating muscle weakness?
- Myasthenia gravis
- Eaton-Lambert syndrome
- Botulinum toxin
- Muscular dystrophy
In this question, muscular dystrophy is the weakest option since it refers to continuous (not fluctuating) muscle weakness. Once you eliminate it, you’re left with 3 options, and your probability of getting the correct answer increases from 25% to 33%. This significantly changes the risk calculation in your favor.
Eliminate 1 option = 33% chance
Eliminate 2 options = 50% chance
If you can’t eliminate even one option, move on. That question will be difficult for everyone.
- Keep it for review later
- Move forward to questions where you are confident
- Return to flagged questions only after completing all questions where you have high confidence.
How to manage time in exam
In NEET-PG exam format, each section consists of 40 questions to be answered in 42 minutes. You can only proceed to the next section after completing the current one. Given this structure, your approach must be strategic and disciplined. Here’s how to optimize your performance:
1. Set a Time Limit Per Question
- Aim to spend no more than 45 seconds per question on the first pass.
- The goal is to complete all 40 questions in about 30 minutes, leaving 12 minutes for review and tackling tough questions.
2. Move On If You’re Stuck
- For each question, quickly assess:
“Do I know this concept well enough to answer confidently?”
If yes, answer and move on.
If you’re unsure or stuck on a question, skip it immediately. - Mark it for review and revisit it later if time permits.
3. Maintain the Right Mindset
- Enter the exam knowing that some questions are intentionally difficult or based on rare concepts.
- Don’t let unfamiliar questions shake your confidence—they are designed to test limits.
- Stay focused on the bigger goal: maximizing your score by securing every mark you’re confident about.
4. Practice This Strategy Beforehand
- Simulate this time management strategy during your mock tests and grand tests (GTs).
Build the mental habit of skipping, marking, and returning to tough questions without emotional disruption.
Summary:
If there’s one takeaway from this blog, it’s this: under-attempting is a hidden rank killer. Every year, candidates with solid preparation miss out on top ranks— due to excessive caution. Playing it too safe exams like NEET PG and INI-CET often leads to lost opportunities, especially when hundreds of potential marks are left unattempted.
This doesn’t encourage reckless guessing—it teaches you how to take calculated risks, backed by strategy, elimination techniques, and smart question handling. As shown through real examples, even partial confidence can work in your favor. If you can eliminate even one option, your chances improve—and those small decisions, repeated across 200 questions, can compound into a massive score difference.”As Dr. Thameem Saif also suggests, the right approach to attempting questions is to aim for around 190, which can be smarter than chasing perfection—striking the balance between over-attempting and under-attempting.”
Understanding the marking scheme, recognizing how to manage time, and knowing when to move on, maximizing your output without compromising accuracy.
So, if you’ve been training yourself to avoid risks—train smarter instead. Learn to spot the legitimate ones.
It’s to play the numbers, take informed decisions, and make every question count.
Stay consistent, stay strategic, and you’ll be well on your way to your dream rank!
Read the full blog to master this mindset—and convert uncertainty into your competitive edge.
Want to get more insights?
Revision Strategies That Actually Work – Learn to revise high-yield topics that maximise retention while saving precious time in the final weeks.
Grand Test sessions – How to attend GT’s more efficiently. We’ll share our exclusive
GT analysis that helps identify your unique pattern of mistakes.
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FAQ’s
NEET PG gives +4 for correct answers and -1 for wrong ones, while INI-CET gives +1 for correct and deducts ⅓ for wrong answers. There’s no negative marking for unattempted questions in both.
Aim to attempt around 190 ± 5 questions, depending on your confidence level and preparation. Strategic risk-taking often leads to a better score than playing it too safe.
Practice completing each section in about 30 minutes, allowing time to review. Use the skip-and-return approach and don’t dwell too long on tough questions.
A calculated risk means attempting a question only when you’ve ruled out at least one wrong answer, improving your probability of getting it right.
Use active recall, mock tests, and grand tests (GTs) regularly. Build habits of focus, quick decision-making, and careful reading under time constraints.
Common reasons include superficial understanding, memory lapses, blind guessing, and poor time management. These can be improved with practice and targeted revision.
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