20 Dec

MHT-CET 2023: ‘Fairness Assured in the Score Calculation Through Normalization Method’

20-Dec-2023

Content Team at Target Publications

MHT-CET 2023: ‘Fairness Assured in the Score Calculation Through Normalization Method’

Over 4 lakh candidates appeared for the MHT-CET 2023 exam. To accommodate all candidates effectively, the State Common Entrance Test Cell of Maharashtra implemented different sessions, each offering a unique set of questions with varying difficulty levels.

But what if the MHT-CET paper of your shift was difficult? And your friend’s was easy? How will fairness be ensured?

Through the MHT-CET’s Score Normalization Process of course!

But What Exactly is Normalization?

Normalization is a process in which the scores secured across different exam shifts are adjusted to a common scale. Thus, every candidate’s performance is evaluated based on similar exam parameters. This ensures that candidates are neither benefited nor at a disadvantage due to the difficulty level of their shift examination.

The end result (i.e. your MHT-CET score) of this normalization process is represented in terms of a percentile score.

A Step-wise Guide of the Procedure for the Normalization and Calculation of Percentile Score

STEP 1: Distribution of Examinees

In order to distribute the examinees evenly, candidates will be randomly assigned to four sessions over the course of two days, with two shifts per day. The goal here is to ensure that each session has a roughly equal number of candidates.

Session-1: Day-1 Batch-1

Session-2: Day-1 Batch-2

Session-3: Day-2 Batch-1

Session- 4: Day-2 Batch-2

If there are additional days or shifts required, the candidates will be divided accordingly to maintain fairness in the distribution. This approach ensures that there is no bias in the allocation of candidates for the examination. Moreover, considering the large number of examinees across the country, the likelihood of any bias occurring in the distribution becomes highly unlikely.

STEP 2: Preparing Results for Each Session

The results for each session will be prepared in two formats:

Raw scores
Percentile scores

A quick look at percentile scores and how to calculate them

Percentile scores are your raw marks transformed into a scale of 100 to 0 for each session, where 100 is the highest score obtained in each session.

Here’s how to calculate the percentile score of a candidate:

100 * (No. of candidates appeared in the session with raw score ≤ candidate's score) ÷ Total number of candidates in the exam

Note: The percentile score should not be confused with the percentage of marks obtained by the candidate. The percentile of the total score will not be an aggregate or average of the percentiles of individual subjects.

In order to better grasp the concept of percentile scoring and the normalization process, let's consider an example.

Suppose a test was conducted in 4 sessions as per the details given below:

(I) Distribution of candidates:

Session-1: Day-1 Batch-1

Session-2: Day-1 Batch-2

Session-3: Day-2 Batch-1

Session- 4: Day-2 Batch-2

		No. of Candidates			Marks
Session	Day-Batch	Absent	Present	Total	Highest	Lowest
1	D1 B1	150	2249	2399	154	1
2	D1 B2	186	2272	2458	157	0
3	D2 B1	215	2216	2431	149	0
4	D2 B2	166	2257	2423	161	0

According to this scoring method, the highest raw score in each paper will be assigned a percentile of 100. This indicates that 100% of the candidates have scores equal to or lower than the highest scorer or topper in that session.

Highest raw score and percentile score:

For each session, the highest raw scores will be assigned a normalized percentile score of 100.

Session	Total Candidates Appeared	Highest Raw Score	Candidates Who Scored EQUAL OR LESS THAN the Highest Raw Score	Percentile Score	Remarks
1	2249	154	2249	100.0000000 [(2249/2249)*100]	i.e. all the highest raw scores would be normalized to 100 Percentile Score for their respective session.
2	2272	157	2272	100.0000000 [(2272/2272)*100]
3	2216	149	2216	100.0000000 [(2216/2216)*100]
4	2257	161	2257	100.0000000 [(2257/2257)*100]

Lowest raw score and percentile score:

The percentile scores of all the lowest raw scores will be determined based on the total number of candidates who have taken the examination in their respective session.

Session	Total Candidates Appeared	Lowest Raw Score	Candidates Who Scored EQUAL OR LESS THAN Lowest Raw Score	Percentile Score	Remarks
1	2249	1	2	(2/2249)[(2/2249)*100]	Percentile Score of all the lowest raw scores are different i.e. Percentile Score depends on the total number of candidates who have taken the examination for their respective session.
2	2272	0	2	(2/2272)[(2/2272)*100]
3	2216	0	1	(1/2216)[(1/2216)*100]
4	2257	0	2	(2/2257)[(2/2257)*100]

The percentile score will serve as the normalized score for the examination, replacing the raw marks of the candidate. To avoid clustering or ties, the percentile scores will be calculated up to 7 decimal places.

The scores will be calculated separately for each of the three subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry) and the overall total score as follows:

Total Percentile (T1P) = 100 * (No. of candidates appeared from session with raw score equal to or less than T1 score ÷ Total no. of candidates appeared in the session)

Mathematics Percentile (M1P) = 100 * (No. of candidates appeared from session with raw score equal to or less than M1 score in Mathematics ÷ Total no. of candidates appeared in the session)

Physics Percentile (P1P) = 100 * (No. of candidates appeared from session with raw score equal to or less than P1 score in Physics ÷ Total no. of candidates appeared in the session)

Chemistry Percentile (C1P) = 100 * (No. of candidates appeared from session with raw score equal to or less than C1 score in Chemistry ÷ Total no. of candidates appeared in the session)

Process of Normalisation for MHT-CET 2023 exam

STEP 3: Compilation of MHT-CET Scores

The total MHT-CET scores will be compiled as follows:

The percentile scores for the Total Raw Scores in all four sessions (calculated in Step-2), will be combined and referred to as the CET scores. These scores will be utilised for the compilation of the final results.

Separate percentiles will be calculated for the Total Raw Score as well as the Raw Scores in the three subjects (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) in all four sessions.

PERCENTILE : SESSION-1 i.e. DAY-1 Batch-1
Roll Number	Physics		Chemistry		Mathematics		PCM Total
	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile
D1 B1-01	38	89.2841263	30	100	86	99.9555358	154	100
D1 B1-02	45	100	26	99.0217875	83	98.9773233	154	100
D1 B1-03	45	100	22	92.0409071	86	99.9555358	153	99.9119718
D1 B1-04	45	100	22	92.0409071	86	99.9555358	153	99.9119718
D1 B1-05	45	100	26	99.0217875	82	98.710538	153	99.9119718
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
D1 B1-2244	3	3.5571365	2	6.8030236	2	2.4010671	7	1.3644366
D1 B1-2245	2	2.4455313	0	1.2449978	3	2.801245	5	1.2323944
D1 B1-2246	1	1.734104	0	1.2449978	3	2.801245	4	1.1883803
D1 B1-2247	0	0.3112494	2	6.8030236	0	0.5780347	2	1.1443662
D1 B1-2248	0	0.3112494	1	2.7567808	0	0.5780347	1	1.1003521
D1 B1-2249	1	1.734104	0	1.2449978	0	0.5780347	1	1.1003521

PERCENTILE : SESSION-2 i.e. DAY-1 Batch-2
Roll Number	Physics		Chemistry		Mathematics		PCM Total
	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile
D1 B2-01	45	100	30	100	82	99.9559859	157	100
D1 B2-02	45	100	30	100	82	99.9559859	157	100
D1 B2-03	45	100	30	100	82	99.9559859	157	100
D1 B2-04	41	97.5792254	30	100	82	99.9559859	153	99.8679577
D1 B2-05	41	97.5792254	26	94.6742958	86	100	153	99.8679577
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
D1 B2-2268	3	4.665493	1	2.1126761	0	0.528169	4	0.2200704
D1 B2-2269	2	3.3010563	0	0.9242958	1	0.9683099	3	0.1760563
D1 B2-2270	1	2.4647887	0	0.9242958	0	0.528169	1	0.1320423
D1 B2-2271	0	0.4841549	0	0.9242958	0	0.528169	0	0.0880282
D1 B2-2272	0	0.4841549	0	0.9242958	0	0.528169	0	0.088028

PERCENTILE : SESSION-3 i.e. DAY-2 Batch-1
Roll Number	Physics		Chemistry		Mathematics		PCM Total
	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile
D2 B1-01	37	96.6155235	30	100	82	99.8646209	149	100
D2 B1-02	41	99.4584838	26	96.6155235	82	99.8646209	149	100
D2 B1-03	45	100	23	87.8610108	78	98.5108303	146	99.9119718
D2 B1-04	41	99.4584838	26	96.6155235	79	99.0974729	146	99.9119718
D2 B1-05	41	99.4584838	30	100	74	94.9909747	145	99.8239437
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
D2 B1-2212	2	5.099278	1	1.2635379	2	3.4747292	5	2.7288732
D2 B1-2213	1	3.2039711	2	3.8357401	2	3.4747292	5	2.7288732
D2 B1-2214	1	3.2039711	2	3.8357401	2	3.4747292	5	2.7288732
D2 B1-2215	3	8.4837545	0	0.5866426	0	1.0379061	3	2.5528169
D2 B1-2216	0	1.0830325	0	0.5866426	0	1.0379061	0	2.5088028

PERCENTILE : SESSION-4 i.e. DAY-2 Batch-2
Roll Number	Physics		Chemistry		Mathematics		PCM Total
	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile
D2 B2-01	41	100	30	100	90	100	161	100
D2 B2-02	41	100	30	100	90	100	161	100
D2 B2-03	41	100	30	100	86	99.0695614	157	99.9113868
D2 B2-04	41	100	30	100	86	99.0695614	157	99.9113868
D2 B2-05	37	98.5378821	30	100	90	100	157	99.9113868
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
D2 B2-2253	3	14.4882588	0	0.664599	0	0.7975188	3	0.3101462
D2 B2-2254	0	1.9051839	2	4.8294196	0	0.7975188	2	0.1772264
D2 B2-2255	0	1.9051839	0	0.664599	1	1.5950377	1	0.1329198
D2 B2-2256	0	1.9051839	0	0.664599	0	0.7975188	0	0.0886132
D2 B2-2257	0	1.9051839	0	0.664599	0	0.7975188	0	0.0886132

The percentile scores obtained from all four sessions will be merged to calculate the total percentile, Mathematics percentile, Physics percentile and Chemistry percentile. These merged percentile scores will be used to prepare the CET scores.

PERCENTILE: All 4 Sessions Combined
Roll Number	Physics		Chemistry		Mathematics		PCM Total
	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile	Raw Score	Percentile
D1 B1-01	38	89.2841263	30	100	86	99.9555358	154	100
D1 B1-02	45	100	26	99.0217875	83	98.9773233	154	100
D1 B2-01	45	100	30	100	82	99.9559859	157	100
D1 B2-02	45	100	30	100	82	99.9559859	157	100
D1 B2-03	45	100	30	100	82	99.9559859	157	100
D2 B1-01	37	96.6155235	30	100	82	99.8646209	149	100
D2 B1-02	41	99.4584838	26	96.6155235	82	99.8646209	149	100
D2 B2-01	41	100	30	100	90	100	161	100
D2 B2-02	41	100	30	100	90	100	161	100
D1 B1-03	45	100	22	92.0409071	86	99.9555358	153	99.9119718
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓	↓
D2 B2-2253	3	14.4882588	0	0.664599	0	0.7975188	3	0.3101462
D1 B2-2268	3	4.665493	1	2.1126761	0	0.528169	4	0.2200704
D2 B2-2254	0	1.9051839	2	4.8294196	0	0.7975188	2	0.1772264
D1 B2-2269	2	3.3010563	0	0.9242958	1	0.9683099	3	0.1760563
D2 B2-2255	0	1.9051839	0	0.664599	1	1.5950377	1	0.1329198
D1 B2-2270	1	2.4647887	0	0.9242958	0	0.528169	1	0.1320423
D2 B2-2256	0	1.9051839	0	0.664599	0	0.7975188	0	0.0886132
D2 B2-2257	0	1.9051839	0	0.664599	0	0.7975188	0	0.0886132
D1 B2-1328	0	0.4841549	0	0.9242958	0	0.528169	0	0.0880282
D1 B2-95	0	0.4841549	0	0.9242958	0	0.528169	0	0.0880282

Note: The roll numbers provided in the table are only for representation and not actual roll numbers

The percentile scores will be calculated in a similar manner for Biology and overall scores in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB).

Conclusion

With so many students banking on the MHT-CET scores for their chosen academic paths, fairness is the basis of their merit. While this Normalization Process might seem tedious, it is nonetheless essential.

MHT-CET 2023: ‘Fairness Assured in the Score Calculation Through Normalization Method’

But What Exactly is Normalization?

A Step-wise Guide of the Procedure for the Normalization and Calculation of Percentile Score

Highest raw score and percentile score:

Lowest raw score and percentile score:

Conclusion

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MHT-CET 2023: ‘Fairness Assured in the Score Calculation Through Normalization Method’

But What Exactly is Normalization?

A Step-wise Guide of the Procedure for the Normalization and Calculation of Percentile Score

Highest raw score and percentile score:

Lowest raw score and percentile score:

Conclusion

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