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Only multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in Equip’s own library quizzes carry negative points, and that cannot be turned off. Custom content never has negative marking unless you add it yourself.

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Equip Library Quizzes

Equip supports many test types, such as Quizzes, Programming Tests, and Video Response. Negative points apply in exactly one place: MCQs inside Equip-content quizzes. Other test types, and non-MCQ question types, carry no negative points. Candidates always see the deduction upfront. The negative points for each question are displayed on the question itself, so nobody is penalized by surprise. You cannot disable negative marking on Equip’s library quizzes. Candidates can get lucky when guessing MCQs, and a small penalty makes them think twice before picking an option at random. This keeps scores comparable and meaningful.
Because of negative marking, scores on Equip-content quizzes can look lower than you expect. That is by design: use them for relative shortlisting rather than absolute judgments. See What Is a Good Assessment Score? for guidance.

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Custom Content

If you would rather test without negative marking, create your own questions with Custom Tests. Negative points are fully under your control there.
1

Open Custom Tests

From the sidebar of the Assessments Dashboard, click Custom Tests and create or edit a quiz.
2

Set points per question

While adding each question, set its points, timer, and negative points. Skip negative points on any question where you do not want deductions.
3

Add the quiz to an assessment

In the assessment’s Tests tab, add the quiz under My Content. An assessment can freely mix Equip content and custom tests.
Importing questions from Excel? The importer offers an Autocalculate Negative Points option that fills in deductions for MCQs automatically. See Import Questions from Excel.

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How Deductions Are Calculated

When negative points are assigned automatically, the formula is:
For example, a 2-point MCQ with 4 options deducts 0.5 points for a wrong answer. Equip’s library quizzes use this calculation, and the Excel importer’s Autocalculate option applies the same formula to your custom MCQs.
Multiple-answer questions (MCAs) are never auto-assigned negative points. Automatic deductions apply to single-answer MCQs only.
A candidate’s test score is simply the sum of points earned minus any deductions. That test score then feeds into the overall assessment score through test weightages.