%0 Conference Proceedings %A Holt, A. %D 2006 %T An Analysis of Negative Marking in Multiple-Choice Assessment %E Mann, S. %E Bridgeman, N. %B 19th Annual Conference of the National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications %C Wellington, New Zealand %I NACCQ in cooperation with ACM SIGCSE %P 115-118 %@ ISSN 1176-8068 %U www.naccq.ac.nz %8 7th-10th July 2006 %X This paper examines guessing strategies in multiplechoice assessments. It first looks at the likelihood of achieving a pass score given that the student has no knowledge of the subject area and adopts a pure guessing strategy. Then an analysis of negative marking schemes, as a means of discouraging guessing, is presented and used in order to examine the trade-offs between taking a geuss and not answering a question. The analysis shows that with a negative marking scheme the benefits/detriments of guessing depend upon the severity of the penalty of an incorrect answer relative to level of reward for a correct answer and the number options from which the students have to choose. From this analysis it is possible to calibrate the marking scheme and establish fair penalties. %K Multiple-choice assessment, negative marking, guessing strategies.