Exam glossary · TNPSC

Option E, "answer not known", on the TNPSC OMR sheet

By the PrepMatic team · Updated 9 Oct 2026 · 2 min read

Option [E] is the fifth bubble on a TNPSC OMR sheet, marked "answer not known". You shade it when you cannot or do not want to answer a question. It scores zero, but it stops the question counting as blank, and a question left completely blank costs 0.5 mark in the Group 4 2026 notification.

How the scheme works

Each question has options A to D and [E]. The Group 4 notification states three things, and together they define the scheme:

• A correct answer earns full marks, which is 1.5 for every question in the 200-question, 300-mark paper.
• A wrong answer carries no deduction.
• A question with no bubble shaded has 0.5 mark deducted from the total.

That is why "no negative marking" is only half of the story. There is no penalty for being wrong, but there is a penalty for not answering.

What each choice is worth

E versus a guess

Because a wrong answer costs nothing, shading E never beats shading A, B, C or D. A guess scores zero at worst and 1.5 at best. E scores zero for certain. So the practical rule is to guess an option when you have even a faint lean, and use E when you want to be sure that every question is marked without spending any thought. Never leave a bubble blank.

One caution: this reasoning applies to the scheme as printed in the Group 4 2026 notification. Read the OMR instructions annexure of any other notification before you rely on it.

An example

In a mock, you reach question 190 with eleven questions unread and one minute left. Shade the same letter or a quick guess on all eleven. Leaving them blank would cost 5.5 marks. A guess has an average chance of one in four of being right, so it also gives an expected gain on top.

Using it in practice

During mocks, build the habit of closing the last two minutes with a sweep of the OMR sheet for blanks. The OMR sheet entry lists the other deductions, and the TNPSC marking scheme guide covers attempt strategy section by section.

Frequently asked questions

Is shading option E better than leaving a question blank?

Yes. E scores zero while a fully blank question loses 0.5 mark.

Is there negative marking for wrong answers in TNPSC Group 4?

No wrong-answer deduction is stated in the Group 4 2026 notification. The only deduction tied to answering is the 0.5 mark for a fully blank question.

Does option E exist in Group 2 and Group 1 papers?

Confirm in the instructions of each notification. The facts above are from the Group 4 2026 notification.

← All exam glossary