In UPSC Prelims, attempting 90+ questions can be the difference between clearing the cut-off and missing it by a few marks. But fear of negative marking (⅓ per wrong answer) stops many aspirants. The good news? With the right strategy, you can **safely attempt 90–95 questions** while keeping negative marks below 10.
This guide reveals the **5-step framework** used by toppers to maximize attempts **without reckless guessing**.
1 Classify Questions in Real-Time
As you scan the paper, mentally tag each question into one of three buckets:
- ✅ Known: You know the answer → Attempt immediately
- 🤔 Eliminable: You can eliminate 1–2 options → Attempt with caution
- ❌ Unknown: No clue → Skip (do not guess randomly)
Target: 60 Known + 30 Eliminable = 90 safe attempts.
2 Master the Elimination Technique
UPSC loves “close-call” options. Use these filters:
- Extreme words: “Always”, “Never”, “Only” → Usually wrong
- Chronology mismatch: e.g., “Ashoka founded Mauryan Empire” → False (it was Chandragupta)
- Geographical errors: e.g., “Kaveri flows through Rajasthan” → False
- Constitutional inaccuracies: e.g., “DPSP is justiciable” → False
If you can eliminate 2 options, your odds jump from 25% → 50%.
3 Use the “Confidence Meter” Rule
Only attempt a question if your confidence is ≥60%. Ask yourself:
“Would I bet ₹100 on this answer?”
If yes → attempt. If no → skip. This prevents emotional guessing.
4 Prioritize High-Yield Subjects
Focus your “eliminable” attempts on subjects where you can make educated guesses:
- ✅ Polity: Eliminate based on constitutional logic
- ✅ Environment: Eliminate based on geography/biology basics
- ✅ Current Affairs: Use recent memory (last 12 months)
- ⚠️ History/Science: Avoid guessing if unsure
5 Practice with a “Negative Marking Tracker”
In your daily mocks:
- Mark guessed questions with a “?”
- After checking answers, calculate:
Negative Marks = (Wrong Guesses) × 0.66 - Aim to keep negative marks < 8 per mock
This builds instinctive risk awareness.
🎯 Realistic Attempt Breakdown (Target: 90–95 Qs)
- Known (Safe): 60–65 questions → 120–130 marks
- Eliminable (Smart Guess): 25–30 questions → ~40–45 marks (after negatives)
- Total Expected Score: 160–175+ (well above 2024 cut-off of ~95–105)
Train your elimination skills with daily UPSC MCQs — auto-updated, no login!
→ Practice UPSC Prelims MCQsNote: Never attempt more than 95 questions. Beyond that, the risk/reward ratio turns negative.