In this guide
Imagine finishing the RAS Prelims feeling confident, only to learn that you have been disqualified — not for wrong answers, but for leaving too many circles on your answer sheet empty. It sounds unlikely, but RPSC's answer-sheet rules make it possible. Every RAS aspirant needs to understand the five-option system thoroughly, practise it in mocks, and build it into their exam-day routine.
How the five-option system works
Each question in the booklet has four answer options, labelled 1 to 4. On the OMR answer sheet, however, each question has five circles:
| Circle | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3, 4 | Your chosen answer |
| 5 | "Question not attempted" |
For every question, you are expected to darken exactly one of the five circles:
- if you know or choose to guess the answer, darken the circle for that option;
- if you decide not to answer, darken the fifth circle.
The penalties
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | Full marks for the question |
| Wrong answer | Negative marking — one-third of the question's marks deducted |
| Fifth circle darkened (not attempted) | No marks and no penalty |
| No circle darkened at all | Treated as a violation — one-third of the question's marks deducted |
| More than 10% of questions left with no circle darkened | Candidate can be disqualified |
In a 150-question paper, 10 per cent is 15 questions. A candidate who leaves more than 15 questions entirely blank — even with an otherwise excellent paper — risks disqualification.
RPSC has generally allowed additional time (reported as about 10 minutes) at the end of the paper specifically for completing the answer sheet, including darkening the fifth circle where needed.
Why did RPSC introduce it?
The rule is widely understood as a measure to protect the integrity of the examination. When questions are left blank on an OMR sheet, there is a theoretical risk that someone could fill them in after the exam. Requiring a mark in every row — including a deliberate "not attempted" — makes post-exam tampering much harder and leaves a complete record of the candidate's choices.
It also forces candidates to make a conscious decision on every question, which is a small but real discipline.
How it changes your strategy
The negative-marking logic for attempting or skipping a question does not change: guess only when you can eliminate options. What changes is the mechanics. You must now:
- keep track of which questions you have decided to skip;
- remember to darken circle 5 for each of them;
- leave time to check that no row is empty.
Candidates who handle the OMR sheet carelessly — filling it in a rush at the end, or skipping around the paper without marking — are the ones who get caught.
A safe exam-day routine
During the paper
- Answer in the question booklet first, marking your choice beside each question.
- For questions you are skipping for now, put a clear symbol (such as a circle) in the booklet.
- Transfer answers to the OMR sheet in blocks — every 25 or 30 questions — rather than all at the end.
In the last 20 minutes
- Make final decisions on the marked questions: answer the ones where you can eliminate two options; for the rest, decide "not attempted".
- Darken circle 5 for every question you are not attempting.
In the extra minutes
- Run your finger down the answer sheet, row by row, and check that every row has exactly one darkened circle.
- Check that no row has two circles darkened.
- Check your roll number and booklet series.
Common errors
| Error | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Leaving rows blank, planning to "come back later" | Transfer in blocks; mark skipped questions immediately |
| Forgetting circle 5 in the rush at the end | Reserve the final minutes only for OMR checking |
| Darkening two circles for one question | Decide in the booklet first; transfer carefully |
| Mismatched rows (answer for Q41 in row 42) | Check the question number every 10 rows |
| Stray marks | Use the prescribed pen; keep the sheet clean |
A note for the Mains
The five-option rule applies to the objective Prelims paper. The Mains is descriptive. But the discipline it teaches — decide deliberately, record carefully, check everything — is exactly the discipline that good administrators need.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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