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What is option E in the TNPSC OMR sheet?
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Option E on the TNPSC OMR sheet means "answer not known". Each question has five bubbles, A to D for the choices and E for the candidate who does not want to answer. It exists so that you can mark a question as deliberately skipped instead of leaving the bubbles empty, which would cost you 0.5 mark.
How the five bubbles work
| What you shade | Result |
|---|---|
| The correct option from A to D | Full marks (1.5 for each question in Group 4) |
| A wrong option from A to D | No marks, no deduction |
| E, "answer not known" | No marks, no blank deduction |
| Nothing | 0.5 mark deducted from your total |
The notification (Annexure IV) says no question should be left unshaded and states the deduction for a question left completely blank. It does not describe any deduction for wrong answers. See what happens if you leave a question blank.
When E is worth using
Rarely. A wrong answer scores the same as E, so when you can narrow a question down, a guess is never worse than E. E is a fallback for the last minutes of the paper, when you are shading what remains and want a valid mark on every line.
Other OMR rules in the same annexure
- Count of unshaded questions. The candidate must record how many questions were left unshaded.
- Left-hand thumb impression. If it is missing, 0.5 mark is deducted.
- Register number. On a non-personalised OMR sheet, writing the register number wrongly costs 2 marks.
These are small compared with the 300-mark paper, but they are entirely avoidable. Read the instructions printed on your hall ticket and your OMR sheet before the paper begins.
Practising the OMR
Time yourself on a printed OMR sheet in at least a few full mocks, so shading all 200 bubbles is routine. The TNPSC marking scheme guide explains the attempt strategy that follows from these rules.
Source
Other exams may use a different OMR layout, so read the instructions for yours.
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- Blank answer penaltyLeaving a question completely blank costs 0.5 mark in the TNPSC Group 4 OMR, while a wrong answer costs nothing. How the penalty works and what to do.
- Marks per question in Group 4Each TNPSC Group 4 question carries 1.5 marks: 200 questions for 300 marks. How marks split across Tamil, General Studies and aptitude, and what a blank costs.
- TNPSC negative markingTNPSC has no penalty for wrong answers, but a fully blank question costs 0.5 mark. See option E, OMR rules, qualifying marks and the attempt strategy.
More in TNPSC
- TNPSC attempt limitTNPSC notifications for Group 1, 2/2A and 4 set no cap on attempts. The real limits are the maximum age and the number of free fee-concession chances.
- TNPSC community reservationTNPSC follows Tamil Nadu's community reservation: SC 15%, SC(A) 3%, ST 1%, BC 26.5%, BC Muslim 3.5% and MBC/DC 20%. Plus women and disability quotas.
- TNPSC concessions for PwBDTNPSC gives persons with benchmark disabilities 4% reservation, full fee exemption, higher age limits and relaxations in Tamil papers. Group-wise details.
- TNPSC exam feeTNPSC fees: Rs.150 for OTR once, then Rs.100 for Group 4, Rs.100 plus Rs.150 for Group 2, and Rs.100 plus Rs.200 for Group 1. Who pays nothing.
- TNPSC fee exemptionSC, SC(A), ST, disabled candidates and destitute widows pay no TNPSC exam fee. BC, MBC and DC get 3 free chances and ex-servicemen 2. How the count works.
- Is there a Group 8 exam?Executive Officer Grade IV, once the Group 8 post, is now recruited through TNPSC Group 4, and EO Grade III through Group 2A. Eligibility and the HR&CE rules.
- TNPSC helpdesk numberTNPSC helpdesk toll-free number 1800 419 0958 works 10 AM to 5.45 PM on working days. Email addresses for OTR queries and grievances, and when to use each.
- Is Tamil needed to apply?TNPSC requires adequate knowledge of Tamil, shown by studying Tamil at school or college, or by passing the TNPSC Second Class Language Test later.