> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.equip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Negative Marking: When It Applies

> When negative points are enabled, how deductions are calculated, and whether you can disable them.

<Tip>
  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.
</Tip>

## Equip Library Quizzes

Equip supports many [test types](/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.

<Note>
  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?](/good-assessment-score) for guidance.
</Note>

## Custom Content

If you would rather test without negative marking, create your own questions with [Custom Tests](/custom-tests). Negative points are fully under your control there.

|                                    | Equip Content        | Custom Content         |
| ---------------------------------- | -------------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Negative points on MCQs**        | Always on            | Optional, per question |
| **Can you change or remove them?** | No                   | Yes                    |
| **Who sets the value**             | Equip, automatically | You                    |

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Custom Tests">
    From the sidebar of the Assessments Dashboard, click **Custom Tests** and create or edit a quiz.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Importing questions from Excel? The importer offers an **Autocalculate Negative Points** option that fills in deductions for MCQs automatically. See [Import Questions from Excel](/import-questions-from-excel).
</Tip>

## How Deductions Are Calculated

When negative points are assigned automatically, the formula is:

```
negative points = question points / number of options
```

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.

<Note>
  Multiple-answer questions (MCAs) are never auto-assigned negative points. Automatic deductions apply to single-answer MCQs only.
</Note>

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.

## Related Resources

* [Equip Content vs Custom Content](/equip-vs-custom-content) - Full comparison of what you can and cannot change per content type
* [Test Scores and Overall Score](/test-scores-and-overall-score) - How per-test points roll up into the overall score
* [Import Questions from Excel](/import-questions-from-excel) - Bulk-add custom questions with auto-calculated negative points
* [What Is a Good Assessment Score?](/good-assessment-score) - Interpreting scores that negative marking has pulled down