XAT 2027: Should You Guess or Skip a Question? Check the Negative Marking Rules

XAT 2027 Negative Marking for Unattempted Questions

According to the official XAT exam pattern, candidates can leave up to eight questions unanswered in Part 1 without penalty. For every additional unanswered question, 0.10 marks are deducted. This rule applies across Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR), Decision Making (DM), and Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI) combined. The limit is not eight questions per section. 

XAT 2027 Marking Scheme

The following table explains how correct, incorrect and unanswered questions affect your score.

The unattempted-question penalty applies to Part 1 only. General Knowledge has no negative marking, and its score is considered separately by XLRI during the selection process. 

How Many Questions Can You Skip in XAT 2027?

You can skip eight questions in Part 1 without losing marks. From the ninth unanswered question onwards, every additional skip costs 0.10 marks. The following table shows how the penalty increases as you leave more questions unanswered.

For example, if you leave 15 questions unanswered, seven exceed the free limit. Your score is reduced by 0.70 marks. Although this deduction may appear small, every mark can matter when candidates compete for admission to their preferred MBA programmes.

Should You Guess or Skip Questions in XAT 2027?

The right decision depends on how much you know about the question. A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, while an additional unanswered question costs 0.10 marks. However, this does not mean you should always skip difficult questions or always guess after crossing the eight-question limit.

Consider these situations before making your decision.

Is Random Guessing Better Than Skipping?

Assume a question has five options, with one correct answer. A correct answer earns one mark, while an incorrect answer costs 0.25 marks.

If you guess randomly, the expected score is:

$E=\frac15(1)+\frac45(-0.25)=0$

This means a completely random guess has an expected score of zero. If you have already crossed the eight-question limit, leaving another question unanswered costs 0.10 marks. Therefore, random guessing has a higher expected score than skipping under these assumptions, but it does not guarantee a better actual result.

The situation improves when you can eliminate options. For example, if you narrow five options down to two, your chance of choosing correctly increases to 50%, assuming both remaining options are equally likely.

The practical rule is simple: attempt questions you can solve, use informed guesses when you can eliminate options, and avoid blind guessing when it wastes time or distracts you from easier questions.

How to Calculate the Penalty for Unattempted Questions

You can calculate the deduction using a simple formula:

Penalty = (Total unanswered questions - 8) × 0.10

Use this formula only when you have left more than eight questions unanswered. If you have skipped eight or fewer questions, the penalty is zero.

For example, suppose you leave 18 questions unanswered in Part 1.

• Total unanswered questions: 18

• Questions allowed without penalty: 8

• Questions attracting a penalty: 18 - 8 = 10

• Total deduction: 10 × 0.10 = 1 mark

Your score will therefore be reduced by one mark because of unanswered questions. Remember that this deduction is separate from the penalty for incorrect answers.

How to Manage Unanswered Questions During XAT 2027

Part 1 gives you 170 minutes to attempt VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI. Use this time carefully instead of spending too long on a single difficult question. 

1. Attempt Easy Questions First

Start with questions you understand and can solve confidently. This helps you collect marks without getting stuck on lengthy calculations or confusing options.

2. Mark Difficult Questions for Review

If a question seems difficult, move ahead and return to it later. Do not let one lengthy question take time away from several easier ones.

3. Track Your Unanswered Questions

Keep track of unanswered questions across all three Part 1 sections. The eight-question limit applies to the combined total, not separately to VALR, Decision Making and QA & DI.

4. Use Informed Guessing

If you can remove one or more options using logic, attempt the question if time permits. Avoid choosing an option randomly just because you have crossed the free skipping limit.

5. Practise with Mock Tests

During mock tests, track the number of correct answers, incorrect answers and unanswered questions. Review why you skipped each question and identify whether better time management or more practice could help you solve it next time.

XAT 2027 Free Mock Test

Take the free XAT 2027 mock test to assess your preparation, practise exam-level questions, and identify areas that need improvement. Attempt to understand the negative marking approach and strategy to overcome.

Attempt Now: XAT 2027 Free Mock Test 

Practice with XAT Official Mock Test with Solutions 

XAT 2027 Preparation Resources

Explore these XAT 2027 preparation resources to strengthen your section-wise preparation, practise mock tests and previous years’ question papers.

Practise regularly with these resources to assess your preparation, improve accuracy, and build confidence for the XAT 2027 exam.

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