CPSP negative marking on FCPS Part 1: the complete guide
Does CPSP penalise wrong answers? Should you guess? What happens to blank questions? Doctor-verified answers and exam-day strategy.
One of the most common questions we get from new candidates: "Does CPSP do negative marking on FCPS Part 1?" Short answer: no, not in the traditional sense. Long answer: there's a nuance worth understanding because it changes how you should approach the exam.
The current rule (2025–2026)
- Correct answer: +1 mark
- Incorrect answer: 0 marks
- Unanswered question: 0 marks
That's it. No deductions. You should attempt every single question.
What this means strategically
Because there's no penalty for guessing, the math is simple:
- An MCQ has 5 options. A blind guess = 20% chance of being right = +0.20 expected marks.
- Compared to leaving it blank (0 marks), guessing has positive expected value.
- Even if you can rule out 1 option, your odds jump to 25% (+0.25). Two options ruled out = 33% (+0.33).
Practical exam-day rules
- Never leave a question blank. Every blank is a 20% loss vs guessing.
- Eliminate first, then guess. Even ruling out 1 obviously wrong option lifts your odds materially.
- Don't waste 4 minutes on a hard question. Mark it for review, guess your best option, move on. Come back if you have time.
- Use the "letter pattern" only as a last resort. If you've eliminated nothing and have to pick blind, statistical analysis of past CPSP papers shows option C is marginally over-represented — but the effect is small. Don't rely on it.
How CPSP marking actually works behind the scenes
Each MCQ has a single best answer. After the paper:
- Raw scores are tallied (1 mark per correct).
- Scores are converted to a percentage of total available marks.
- The variable cut-off (set by an Angoff-style examiner panel for that specific paper — read about cut-offs here) is applied.
- Pass / fail is published; no breakdown by subject is shared with candidates.
Common myths we're asked about
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "There's a -0.25 penalty for wrong answers" | False. Has not been the case for FCPS Part 1 in recent years. Some other CPSP exams use negative marking but Part 1 doesn't. |
| "You should leave questions blank if you don't know" | Wrong. Always guess. |
| "Some questions are worth 2 marks" | False. Every MCQ is 1 mark. |
| "Wrong answers in clinical vignettes are penalised more" | False. Same marking for every question regardless of style. |
| "You can flag a 'no-answer' question" | You can mark for review during the exam, but on submission unanswered = 0. |
What if CPSP changes the rule?
If CPSP introduces negative marking in a future cycle (it has happened in some other CPSP exams), the rule of thumb flips:
- If penalty is −0.20 or less per wrong answer (e.g., one-fifth of a mark): still guess freely. Expected value stays positive.
- If penalty is −0.25 or worse: only guess when you can eliminate at least 1 option.
- If penalty is −1.00 (full mark deduction): only answer when you're confident.
Always check the official CPSP guidance for the cycle you're sitting. Don't trust a 2-year-old WhatsApp screenshot.
Bottom line
For FCPS Part 1 in 2026: there's no negative marking. Every question gets your best guess. Pace yourself, eliminate where you can, and never leave anything blank.
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