Do wrong answers subtract marks in the ICS exam?
It depends on the category, and the terms of the call do not decide it: each board does, in its criteria notice. Of the 8 notices published on 30.07.2026 for call 100-2025, 5 deduct ¼ of the value of a correct answer for each wrong one and 3 deduct nothing. The Nursing (A2-129) and Nursing assistant (C2-159) notices are not out yet.
In the papers that carry their criteria in print — 2018 and 2022 for both categories — wrong answers did not subtract: the criteria page states that questions answered wrongly «will not subtract and therefore carry no value». The 2015 and 2016 papers were published without their criteria.
That changed this round. The notices of 30.07.2026 split the categories into two groups, and the split follows no logic of professional group or qualification:
| Category | Test | Practical | Time | Wrong answers subtract? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genetic counselling (A1-107) | 70 | 30 | 150 min | Yes, ¼ |
| Biodiagnostics (A1-108) | 70 | 30 | 135 min | No |
| Obstetrics and gynaecology (A1-118) | 80 | 40 | 150 min | Yes, ¼ |
| Paediatrics, primary care (A1-120) | 70 | 30 | 135 min | No |
| Family and community medicine, primary care (A1-121) | 60 | 30 | 120 min | No |
| Midwifery (A2-127) | 70 | 33 | 125 min | Yes, ¼ |
| Physiotherapy (A2-128) | 70 | 45 | 150 min | Yes, ¼ |
| Social work (A2-135) | 70 | 20 | 100 min | Yes, ¼ |
5 of 8 apply ¼; 3 do not. Source: notices published on the ICS news page.
Questions left unanswered, or with more than one answer, are not taken into account.
Leaving a question blank therefore never costs you anything: the penalty, where it exists, applies only to wrong answers. With four options and one correct, a penalised mistake costs a quarter of a question — enough to change when a guess is worth it, not enough to make blanket blanks a good strategy.
What is not known yet
Until the Nursing and Nursing assistant notices are published, nobody knows whether wrong answers will subtract this year. Anyone who assures you either way is making it up. The notice appears on the ICS news page, usually weeks before the exam.
Where this answer comes from
If you want the detail
- Analysis of the 7 official papers The penalty section, with the verbatim criteria quote from every paper.
- Index of past papers Which papers carry printed criteria and which do not, paper by paper.
Start with Topic 1 — it's free
If you are preparing for this exam, Topic 1 (LOSC, SISCAT and the Health Plan of Catalonia) is open: the full text and its test, no payment and no card.
Try Topic 1 freeEdition a1-2026-07-31 · Links checked on 31.07.2026
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