Negative marks, also known as demerits, are a form of punishment used in educational systems to indicate when a student has done something wrong. Demerits are usually given for minor infractions such as being late to class or not following the dress code. They can also be given for more serious offenses such as cheating or plagiarism. Demerits are typically recorded on a student's record and can lead to more serious consequences if they accumulate too many.