Here is something that happens to a lot of candidates. They practise for months, get 80% or more in chapter-wise sets, and then score far lower in the real objective paper. They did not forget everything overnight. They practised under different rules than the ones they were tested under.
Two rules make the difference: the clock, and negative marking.
What negative marking does to your score
Lok Sewa objective papers generally deduct a fraction of a question's marks for every wrong answer. The exact rule depends on the paper, which is why every mock test and past paper on Aayog Guru shows its marking scheme on an instructions screen before you begin.
The effect is bigger than people expect. Picture two candidates who both know 60 answers out of 100 for certain.
- The first answers only those 60 and leaves the rest blank.
- The second answers all 100, guessing the last 40 at random from four options.
Random guessing on four options gets roughly one in four right. So the second candidate picks up about 10 extra correct answers, but also about 30 wrong ones, and each wrong one takes marks away. Depending on the deduction, blind guessing can leave you roughly where you started, or worse, with a lot of stress added.
The smarter path is in the middle: if you can rule out two options, a guess between the remaining two is often worth it. If you have no idea at all, leave it. That judgement is learnt by sitting papers with real consequences, not from reading about it.
The clock is the other half
In practice mode, a hard question can take as long as you like. In the exam it cannot. A mock test teaches you things chapter practice never will:
- Which sections you are slow in
- Whether you should do GK first and aptitude last, or the other way round
- How long you can keep concentrating before accuracy drops
How mock tests work on Aayog Guru
Our mock tests are built from the structure of the official syllabus for each level. When you open one:
- You see the instructions: number of questions, time allowed and the marking scheme.
- The paper runs on a timer, just like the exam.
- When you submit, or time runs out, it is marked with negative marking applied.
- Every wrong answer is added to your mistake book.
Some mock tests are free for everyone. All mock tests, and full answer review with explanations, come with Aayog Guru Plus. In the Aayog Guru app, free users can also unlock the review of a finished test by watching a short ad.
Want a paper made just for you?
Besides the published mocks, you can generate your own in one tap, optionally mixing in questions you got wrong before. We explain that in custom mock tests.
How often should you sit a mock?
A simple rule: once you have covered about half your syllabus, one mock a week. In the last month, two or three a week, with the days in between spent on your mistake book. Mocks without review are just stress. Review is where the marks come from.
If you have never sat one, pick a free mock test for your exam today and do it properly: phone on silent, timer running, no looking things up. Whatever your score, you will know far more about how to use the weeks you have left.
