CUET stands for Common University Entrance Test, which is a national-level exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to various undergraduate programs offered by the participating central universities, institutions, and organizations across India. CUET is conducted in multiple shifts and sessions for different subjects and programs. Therefore, to ensure fairness and transparency in the evaluation process, NTA uses a normalization method to calculate the CUET scores and percentiles of the candidates.
In this blog post, we will explain how to calculate the total percentile in CUET using a simple formula and an example. We will also discuss the normalization process and its significance in CUET.
What is CUET Percentile?
A percentile is a measure of relative position of a candidate in a group of candidates. It indicates the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or less than a given candidate in an exam. For example, if a candidate has a percentile of 90 in CUET, it means that he/she has scored more than or equal to 90% of the candidates who appeared for the exam.
A percentile is different from a percentage, which is a measure of absolute performance of a candidate in an exam. It indicates the ratio of marks obtained by a candidate to the maximum marks possible in an exam. For example, if a candidate has scored 80 marks out of 100 in an exam, his/her percentage is 80%.
How to Calculate CUET Percentile?
To calculate CUET percentile score, you need to:
- Obtain your raw score from the CUET scorecard.
- Determine the total number of candidates who appeared in the exam.
- Rank the candidates based on their raw scores from the highest to the lowest.
- Find your rank in the list of candidates based on your raw score.
- Calculate your percentile score by dividing the number of students who scored equal to or below your score by the total number of candidates taking the exam and then multiply it by 100.
The formula for CUET percentile score is:
Percentile Score = (No. of Candidates appeared from the session with raw score EQUAL TO OR LESS than T Score / Total Number of Candidates Appeared in Session) x 100
Let us understand this with an example.
Suppose there are 10 candidates who appeared for CUET in a session for a particular subject. The raw scores and ranks of these candidates are as follows:
| Candidate | Raw Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90 | 1 |
| B | 85 | 2 |
| C | 80 | 3 |
| D | 75 | 4 |
| E | 70 | 5 |
| F | 65 | 6 |
| G | 60 | 7 |
| H | 55 | 8 |
| I | 50 | 9 |
| J | 45 | 10 |
To calculate the percentile score of candidate A, we need to find out how many candidates have scored equal to or less than him/her. In this case, only A has scored equal to him/her, so the number is 1. The total number of candidates who appeared in the session is 10. Therefore, using the formula, we get:
Percentile Score of A = (1 / 10) x 100 = 10
Similarly, we can calculate the percentile scores of other candidates as follows:
| Candidate | Raw Score | Rank | Percentile Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90 | 1 | 10 |
| B | 85 | 2 | 20 |
| C | 80 | 3 | 30 |
| D | 75 | 4 | 40 |
| E | 70 | 5 | 50 |
| F | 65 | 6 | 60 |
| G | 60 | 7 | 70 |
| H | 55 | 8 | 80 |
| I | 50 | 9 | 90 |
| J | 45 |
10 |
100 |
What is CUET Normalization?
CUET normalization is a process used by NTA to adjust the raw scores of candidates who appeared for CUET across multiple shifts or sessions for a specific subject. The normalization process is used to ensure that the scores obtained by the candidates are fair and comparable, regardless of the difficulty level of the question papers in different sessions.
The normalization process involves several steps, such as:
- Determining the overall difficulty level of the exam based on the performance of all the candidates in all the sessions.
- Evaluating the difficulty level of each session based on the performance of the candidates in that session.
- Calculating the raw scores, scaled scores, and normalized scores of each candidate in each session based on their responses and the difficulty level of the session.
- Ranking the candidates based on their normalized scores across all the sessions for a specific subject.
The normalized score is the final score that is used to determine the merit list and cut-off marks for CUET. The normalized score is calculated using a statistical formula that takes into account the raw score, scaled score, and percentile score of each candidate in each session.
The formula for normalized score is:
Normalized Score = (Percentile Score / 100) x (Maximum Marks – Minimum Marks) + Minimum Marks
Why is CUET Normalization Important?
CUET normalization is important because it ensures that:
- The candidates are not at a disadvantage or advantage due to the variation in the difficulty level of the question papers in different sessions.
- The candidates are evaluated on a common scale and standard, irrespective of the session they appeared for.
- The candidates have equal opportunities to get admission to their preferred programs and universities based on their merit and preference.
CUET normalization is a scientific and reliable method that is widely used by various testing agencies and educational institutions to conduct fair and transparent entrance exams.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has helped you understand how to calculate the total percentile in CUET and why it is important. CUET is a competitive and prestigious exam that can open up many opportunities for you to pursue your higher education in some of the best central universities in India. Therefore, it is essential to prepare well for the exam and aim for a high percentile score. You can also check out our other blog posts on CUET preparation tips, syllabus, pattern, mock tests, etc. to boost your chances of success. We wish you all the best for your CUET exam!