How Many Questions Should You Attempt in Judiciary Prelims?

Preparing for Judiciary Prelims can feel confusing, especially when it comes to one important question: how many questions should you actually attempt in the exam? Many aspirants make the mistake of focusing only on the number of attempts, without understanding the role of accuracy and exam strategy.

If you are preparing seriously, this article will help you understand the right approach in a simple and practical way.

Why the Number of Attempts Matters in Judiciary Prelims

Judiciary Prelims is an objective-type exam with negative marking in most states. This means:

• Every correct answer gives you marks
• Every wrong answer reduces your score

Because of this, your final score depends not just on how many questions you attempt, but how many you get right.

If you attempt too few questions, your score may not reach the cut-off.
If you attempt too many without accuracy, negative marking will pull your score down.

That is why you need a balanced approach, not an extreme one.

Is There a Fixed Number of Questions You Should Attempt?

The simple answer is: No, there is no fixed number.

Every year, the safe number of attempts changes based on:

• Difficulty level of the paper
• Number of vacancies
• Overall performance of candidates
• Cut-off trends of that state

However, based on past trends across multiple state judiciary exams, a general safe range can be identified.

Ideal Number of Attempts in Judiciary Prelims

In most Judiciary Prelims papers (usually 100 questions), a safe attempt range is:

70 to 85 questions with good accuracy

This range works well because:

• It keeps your attempts high enough to cross cut-off
• It avoids excessive guessing
• It allows you to maintain accuracy

But remember, this is only a guideline. Your personal strategy should depend on your preparation level.

The Most Important Factor: Accuracy

Many aspirants focus only on increasing attempts. This is a big mistake.

In Judiciary Prelims, accuracy matters more than attempts.

For example:

• If you attempt 90 questions with 60% accuracy, your score will drop due to negative marking
• If you attempt 75 questions with 80% accuracy, your score will be much higher

So, your goal should be:

Maximise correct answers, not just total attempts

How to Decide How Many Questions You Should Attempt

The best way to decide your attempt number is to understand your own accuracy level.

If your accuracy is high (80% or above)

If your mock test performance shows high accuracy:

• You can safely attempt 80–90 questions
• You can take calculated risks in a few questions
• You can rely on elimination techniques

This strategy works because even if you get a few answers wrong, your overall score remains strong.

If your accuracy is moderate (65% to 75%)

This is where most aspirants fall.

• You should attempt 70–80 questions
• Focus more on clarity than guessing
• Use elimination method before answering

Here, controlled attempts will help you avoid unnecessary negative marking.

If your accuracy is low (below 65%)

If your mock scores show low accuracy:

• Limit your attempts to 60–70 questions
• Avoid guessing completely
• Focus only on questions you are confident about

At this stage, improving accuracy is more important than increasing attempts.

Common Mistakes Aspirants Make

Understanding mistakes is equally important so that you can avoid them.

Attempting too many questions blindly

Some aspirants believe that attempting more questions automatically increases score. This is not true. Without accuracy, more attempts can reduce your marks due to negative marking.

Fixing a number before entering the exam hall

Many students go with a fixed mindset like “I will attempt 90 questions no matter what.” This approach is risky because the paper difficulty may vary.

Panic in the last minutes

In the final 10–15 minutes, many aspirants start marking random answers just to increase attempts. This often leads to unnecessary loss of marks.

Ignoring mock test analysis

If you are not analysing your mock tests, you will never know your ideal attempt range. Your strategy should be based on data, not guesswork.

Smart Strategy to Attempt Questions in Exam

Instead of thinking only about the number, focus on how you attempt the paper.

First Round: Attempt Sure Questions

In the first reading of the paper:

• Attempt only those questions you are 100% sure about
• Do not waste time on difficult questions
• Build confidence and secure easy marks

This helps you create a strong base score.

Second Round: Use Elimination Method

In the second round:

• Attempt questions where you can eliminate at least 2 options
• Use logic and legal concepts
• Avoid pure guessing

This step helps you increase attempts without risking too much.

Third Round: Controlled Risk

In the final round:

• Attempt only those questions where you can make an educated guess
• Do not attempt questions where you have no idea
• Stay calm and avoid panic

This ensures that you do not lose marks unnecessarily.

Role of Mock Tests in Deciding Attempts

Mock tests are the best way to decide your attempt strategy.

When you take regular mocks:

• You understand your accuracy level
• You identify your strong and weak subjects
• You learn how many questions you can safely attempt

While analysing mocks, always check:

• How many questions you attempted
• How many were correct
• How many were wrong
• Where you made mistakes

Over time, you will find your ideal attempt range automatically.

How Cut-Off Affects Your Attempt Strategy

Cut-off marks vary every year, but your attempt strategy should always aim to stay above the expected cut-off.

If the paper is easy:

• Cut-off will be higher
• You may need to attempt more questions

If the paper is difficult:

• Cut-off will be lower
• Even fewer attempts with good accuracy can work

That is why flexibility is very important.

Final Tips for Judiciary Aspirants

To perform well in Judiciary Prelims, keep these practical points in mind:

• Focus on building strong concepts instead of shortcuts
• Practise previous year papers regularly
• Take mock tests seriously and analyse them properly
• Do not compare your attempts with others
• Stay calm and trust your preparation

Most importantly, remember that every aspirant has a different strategy. What works for someone else may not work for you.

Conclusion

There is no fixed number of questions that you must attempt in Judiciary Prelims. However, a safe and practical range is:

70 to 85 questions with good accuracy

Instead of chasing a number, your focus should be on:

• Accuracy
• Smart question selection
• Proper time management

If you approach the exam with clarity and discipline, you will be able to maximise your score and improve your chances of clearing the prelims.

In the end, it is not about how many questions you attempt. It is about how many questions you get right.