Query regarding Differential Marking in Decision Making Questions

Perseverant_soul

Please clear my doubt regarding decision making questions. UPSC said it will have differential marking. What does it mean ?

Whether it means that each of the 4 options would carry some marks, say Best option awarded 2.5, second best awarded 2 marks, third best 1.5 marks and lastly, awarded 1 mark ?? Is it the case ?

OR

The question will have 2 answer. If we choose the best option and the second best, in both cases, we will be awarded 2.5 marks and zero marks if we choose the other two left.

Please clear my doubt.
Thanks.

fallen_leaves

@prateeknsit I have the same query. I have no idea what UPSC does and I doubt anyone would know how exactly UPSC marks the answers. As far as CLs test-series is concerned, you get *full* 2.5 marks for the *best* option and there are *no-marks* for the next best!

If I consider the options you mentioned, I guess it would be #2 (With a slight change) ->
" If we choose the best option and the second best, in both cases, we will be awarded 2.5 marks and zero marks if we choose the other two left. " -> 2.5 marks for best-option and 1.5 for 2nd best! Its just my opinion!

@neyawn @partho @woodpecker @sunnywadia @alexiaaicha @rm1 @vijay_45 What do you guys think?

fallen_leaves

I was seeing the answer key for UPSC CSE-2011 at Mrunals. The decision making questions have 2 answers, like, A,B etc. So, I guess the differential marking would mean - Full marks (2.5) for the best option (i.e. A) and 1.5/1 ( I don't know) for the next-best option (i.e.

Caartey

Guys UPSC is a stickler for following the rules to the word and each correct answer carriers 2.5 marks
So i think
for marking either one of the 2 options which are correct we would get 2.5
and for other options instead of -0.83 we get simply 0

1.5 for one option and 2.5 for other option will open room for more lawsuits against UPSC
could this be the reason for UPSC stone walling 2012 Prelims answer key and cutoff...???

VikasMaurya

@fallen_leaves @Caartey You're maybe right. In notification, it's clearly mentioned, there are two answers, dubbed 'most appropriate' and 'not so appropriate' the other two are wrong responses. It also says, 'some of the questions where the negative marking will be inbuilt in' which is one third (0.83) penalty for a wrong response. So for the second best option, we may get 1.5/1.67 and zero marks for the rest of the options.

Woodpecker

i always mark my answers based on the most appropriate option. either +2.5 or 0. no marks for the second best.
and will agree with @Caartey here.

also i have one doubt one of my seniors(appeared for interview this time) got 189 in paper 2 and 30 in paper1 in 2012. he was not selected for mains. whereas the cutoff(as declared by mrunal and others was around 200) here my question is does upsc uses the min maarks say 50 atleast in paper1(gs) as a criteria. although they have mentioned that there is no sectional cutoff but we all know how opaque upsc's markig system is(still have no idea about scaling and marks allocation).
what's you opinion @Partho @fallen_leaves @Neyawn

Neyawn

For the wrong answers in Decision Making, UPSC would follow rules strictly, "No negative marks will be awarded"

@Partho I don't think sectional cut -off was there until 2012. Cant say about 2013, given the exam has been combined for IFS people.

Caartey

First no one knows the real Cut off for 2012 yet
And No UPSC only calculates the total of both papers to decide cutoff, its clearly mentioned in the notification...
and your senior might have gotten lesser than the scores you mentioned based on which key he used or whether the marks he told you is true or not...

To summarize NO SEPARATE CUT-OFF,
also cutoff more than 219 is possible but not in 2012,
So 30+189 is either a honest mistake or a big fat lie...

Woodpecker

@Caartey big fat lie...!! how did you manage to come to that conclusion..!!!

Caartey

@Caartey big fat lie...!! how did you manage to come to that conclusion..!!!

Let me start with a Sorry, if i offended you in anyway

First Fact i got 187-191 i didn't clear prelims my friend with appx 196-198 cleared prelims
Second Fact UPSC notification clearly states that they shortlist based on total mark from both papers...

Given Info 219 didn't clear prelims

Only two conclusions possible
Either 219 was wrong or 219 was not true...

Woodpecker

no need for apologies my friend... was just curious how did you mange to get to the conclusion. chill.

219 was not wrong. he checked his answers min ot min 6-7 times. and said if cutoff was 200-210 then he would definitely clear it. also his is not the only case there are some more examples. one of the guys also filed the case. dunno what the outcome was :P

yes there can be the possibility that cutoff might have been higher that 220. but i seriously doubt that.

we can never be too sure about upsc it works in an highly covert environment.

i am raising this point of min 50 marks in papeer1 coz many people have told that they managed to cross 210 marks barrier with just 30-40 marks in paper1. i just want us to be well prepared so we don;t fall in this trap (if there is any), here i am not denying that the cutoff could not be more than 220. :-SS


now dude how did you manage to get 187. its a damn brilliant score. =D> care to share some tips/secrets ;;)