Attempting 80 to 95 questions with at least 75% accuracy is considered a good attempt in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026, which can fetch a safe score of 55 to 72 marks out of 120.

ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 is scheduled for July 2, 2026 and is conducted by NTA on behalf of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The exam has 120 MCQ questions worth 120 marks with a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Knowing exactly how many questions to attempt — and at what accuracy — is the key to avoiding score loss from negative marking.

  • The exam has 120 questions and a total of 120 marks.
  • Negative marking is 0.25 marks (one-fourth) per wrong answer.
  • A safe score for general category students is typically 65 to 75 marks based on 2025 trends.
  • Good attempts are generally considered to be 80 to 95 questions with 75%+ accuracy.
  • Leaving a question unattempted carries no penalty.
Direct Link to ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Official Exam Portal Click Here

ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

Before working out how many questions to attempt, understanding the ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 exam structure is essential. The exam is entirely objective with all questions in MCQ format across your chosen discipline.

Parameter Details
Total Questions 120
Total Marks 120
Marks for Correct Answer +1
Marks Deducted for Wrong Answer -0.25 (one-fourth)
Marks for Unattempted Question 0 (no penalty)
Mode of Exam Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Duration 2 hours 30 minutes
Language English

The negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer means you lose one full mark for every four incorrect responses. Keeping accuracy high is more valuable than attempting every question.


What is a Good Number of Attempts in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

A good attempt is the number of questions you should attempt to reach a safe score while keeping the risk from negative marking low. Based on previous year trends, attempting 80 to 95 questions with 75% to 80% accuracy is considered the ideal range for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026.

The core rule is simple — only attempt a question when you are reasonably confident. A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks while leaving it blank costs nothing. Four wrong guesses erase the mark from one correct answer entirely.

  • Highly confident (above 70% sure): Attempt the question without hesitation.
  • Partially unsure (50 to 70% sure): Use the elimination method to narrow the choices, then attempt.
  • Completely unsure (below 50% sure): Skip the question to avoid negative marking.

For students targeting general merit, a score in the 65 to 75 range out of 120 is considered safe for most disciplines based on 2025 cutoff trends.


Good Attempts vs Expected Score Table

The table below shows expected scores at different attempt counts and accuracy levels. Use this to set a realistic target based on how your mock tests are going.

Score Formula: (Correct Answers x 1) minus (Wrong Answers x 0.25)

Total Attempts Accuracy Correct Answers Wrong Answers Expected Score (out of 120)
70 70% 49 21 43.75
80 75% 60 20 55.00
85 75% 64 21 58.75
90 78% 70 20 65.00
90 80% 72 18 67.50
95 80% 76 19 71.25
100 80% 80 20 75.00
110 82% 90 20 85.00

Ideal target: Attempt 85 to 95 questions with 78%+ accuracy for a score in the 60 to 72 range, which is safe for most general category disciplines based on 2025 trends.


Category-wise Safe Score in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026

The expected safe score varies by reservation category. The figures below are based on 2025 trends and may change depending on the difficulty of the 2026 paper and total students appearing.

Category Expected Safe Score (out of 120) Recommended Good Attempts
General / EWS 65 to 75 85 to 95
OBC-NCL 58 to 68 80 to 90
SC 50 to 60 72 to 82
ST 48 to 58 70 to 80
PwD 45 to 55 68 to 78

These safe score ranges are expected figures based on previous year data. The actual qualifying cutoff for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 will be declared by NTA after the result is published on the official portal.


Strategy to Attempt Questions Wisely with Negative Marking

A structured approach to negative marking can make a significant difference to your final score in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026. Apply these practices during the exam:

  • Attempt in two rounds: In round one, answer every question you are confident about. In round two, revisit flagged questions and use elimination to decide whether to attempt them.
  • Use the elimination method: If you can rule out two of the four options, your probability of picking the right answer rises to 50%, making a careful attempt worthwhile.
  • Avoid random guessing: On average, random guessing on four questions gives one correct and three wrong — a net gain of only 0.25 marks. This is rarely worth the risk.
  • Calibrate targets from mock tests: If your mock test accuracy is consistently above 80%, target 90 to 100 attempts. If it is 70 to 75%, keep attempts in the 80 to 90 range.
  • Prioritise your strongest topics first: Build your score on well-prepared topics before revisiting uncertain questions.
  • Do not rush in the final minutes: Hurriedly guessing near the end of the exam is the fastest way to increase wrong answers and reduce your net score.

ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 Good Attempts FAQs

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 for a safe score?

Ans. Attempting 80 to 95 questions with at least 75% accuracy is generally a good target for ICAR AIEEA PG 2026. This typically results in a score of 55 to 72 marks out of 120, which is in the safe zone for most categories based on 2025 trends.

Ques. What is the negative marking in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

Ans. For each wrong answer in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026, 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the mark for that question) are deducted from your total score. There is no penalty for unattempted questions.

Ques. What is the total marks in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

Ans. ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 has 120 MCQ questions, each carrying 1 mark, for a total of 120 marks.

Ques. Is attempting more questions always better in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

Ans. No. Attempting more questions with low accuracy reduces your net score because of negative marking. A selective approach with 75% to 80% accuracy on 80 to 95 questions generally gives a better result than attempting all 120 at low accuracy.

Ques. What is a safe score for general category students in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026?

Ans. Based on 2025 trends, a score of 65 to 75 out of 120 is expected to be safe for general category students in ICAR AIEEA PG 2026. The actual cutoff will be published by NTA after the result is declared.

Ques. When is ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 scheduled?

Ans. ICAR AIEEA PG 2026 is scheduled for July 2, 2026. Check the official NTA portal at exams.nta.nic.in/icar for admit card details and exam day instructions.