The effect and suggestions for application of negative points with certain types of MCQ

 2 answer questions. If this is a true/false (yes/no) question, the chance to guess the answer is as high as 50%. That is already the usual required score or slightly below it. That is quite unacceptable, but it can be corrected by application of negative points. If a correct answer if given 1 point, the incorrect -1 point and not answering 0 points, maximum number of points that a completely prepared student can achieve is 100%. Completely unprepared student will achieve 0 points, while everybody else will get the number of points in proportion with their knowledge, which is, of course, the purpose of every test.
 3 answer questions. In this case the situation is slightly different. It would not be fair if the correct answer is given 1 point, while the incorrect is given -1 point. Instead of that the total number of negative points of all the incorrect alternative distracters should be the same as the number of points appointed to correct answers. Therefore, every incorrect answer now gets - 0.5 point. Instead of calculating with decimal numbers, to make the calculation easier, many have suggested the system of 2 points for the correct answer, and -1 point for the incorrect one. The total points for correct answers (2) will be the same as the total of all possible incorrect answers (1+1).
 4 answer questions.  If we apply the same rule to 4 answer questions , each correct answer gets 1 point, while each incorrect gets -0,33 points. A more practical calculation can also be used where correct answers get 3 points, while incorrect answers get -1.
 5 answer questions. In 5 answer questions +1 (or +4) point is appointed to correct answers, and -0,25 (or -1) to incorrect answers.