Normalization: The procedure adopted by NTA for the compilation of scores for multi-session papers.

What is normalization? Why normalization?

• Every candidate will get a different set of question papers in every session. The difficulty level of these question papers might not be the same despite all the attempts to maintain equivalency.
• Some of the candidates may end up attempting a tougher set of questions when compared to other sets of questions.
• The candidate who has attempted the tougher examination is likely to get less/lower marks than those who have attempted the easier one.

"Normalization procedure based on Percentile Score" is adapted to overcome a situation like the one mentioned above. It will thus ensure that candidates are neither benefited nor disadvantaged. The difficulty level of the examination or question papers identifies the candidate's true merit.

National Testing Agency (NTA) Procedure to be adopted for compilation of NTA scores for multi session Papers.
(Normalization procedure based on PERCENTILE SCORE)

• NTA will be conducting examinations on multiple dates, generally in two sessions per day.
• The candidates will be given different sets of questions per session and it is quite possible that in spite of all efforts of maintaining equivalence among various question papers, the difficulty level of these question papers administered in different sessions may not be exactly the same. Some of the candidates may end up attempting a relatively tougher set of questions when compared to other sets.
• The candidates who attempt the comparatively tougher examination are likely to get lower marks as compared to those who attempt the easier one.
• In order to overcome such a situation, “Normalization procedure based on Percentile Score” will be used for ensuring that candidates are neither benefitted nor disadvantaged due to the difficulty level of the examination. With the objective of ensuring that a candidate’s true merit is identified, and that a level playing field is created in the above context, the Normalization Procedure, set out below shall be adopted,
• For compiling the NTA scores for multi session papers. The process of Normalization is an established practice for comparing candidate scores across multi session papers and is similar to those being adopted in other large educational selection tests conducted in India.
• For normalization across sections, NTA shall use the percentile equivalence.
• Percentile Scores: Percentile scores are scores based on the relative performance of all those who appear for the examination. Basically the marks obtained are transformed into a scale ranging from 100 to 0 for each session of examinees. The Percentile Score indicates the percentage of candidates that have scored EQUAL TO OR BELOW (same or lower raw scores) that particular Percentile in that examination. Therefore the topper (highest score) of each session will get the same Percentile of 100 which is desirable.
• The marks obtained in between the highest and lowest scores are also converted to appropriate Percentiles.
• The Percentile score will be the Normalized Score for the examination (instead of the raw marks of the candidate) and shall be used for preparation of the merit lists.
• The Percentile Scores will be calculated up to 7 decimal places to avoid bunching effect and reduce ties.
• What is percentile Score?
• The Percentile score of a Candidate is calculated as follows:
• 100 X Number of candidates appeared in the „Session‟ with raw score EQUAL TO OR LESS than the candidate    /   Total number of the candidates appeared in the ‟Session‟
• Note: The Percentile of the Total shall NOT be an aggregate or average of the Percentile of individual subject.
• Percentile score is not the same as percentage of marks obtained.
• For Further Reference download a copy of JEE Bulletin