Self-Instruct
NEET or the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is one of the most sought after medical entrance exams in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) each year in order to provide admissions to medical colleges across the country for undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses.
NEET is a highly competitive examination which requires a lot of hard work and dedication to crack. One of the most important aspects of NEET is the percentile score which is used to rank candidates and allocate seats in medical colleges.
In order to calculate percentile in NEET, it is important to first understand what percentile actually means.
What is percentile?
Percentile is a statistical measure which is used to compare scores of individuals with a group of people who have taken the same test. It is defined as the percentage of test takers who scored lower than the candidate.
For example, a candidate who scores in the 80th percentile would have scored better than 80% of the other test takers who appeared for the exam.
How is percentile calculated in NEET?
NEET is a highly competitive exam and attracts lakhs of students each year. In order to allocate seats in medical colleges, the NTA uses the percentile score which is calculated as follows:
The percentile score is calculated by comparing the candidate’s score with the scores of all other candidates who have appeared for the exam in that particular year.
For example, if a candidate has scored 550 out of 720 marks and there were a total of 10 lakh candidates who appeared for the NEET exam that year, then his percentile score can be calculated as follows:
Step 1: Determine the number of candidates who scored less than the candidate
The number of candidates who scored less than the candidate can be determined by subtracting the candidate’s rank from the total number of candidates who appeared for the exam.
In this case, if the candidate’s rank is 5000, then the number of candidates who scored less than the candidate will be (10,00,000 – 5,000 = 9,95,000).
Step 2: Calculate the percentile
The percentile can be calculated by dividing the number of candidates who scored less than the candidate by the total number of candidates who appeared for the exam and then multiplying it by 100.
In this case, the percentile score will be (9,95,000/10,00,000) x 100 = 99.5 percentile.
What are the factors that affect percentile in NEET?
There are several factors that can affect percentile in NEET such as:
1. The number of candidates who appeared for the exam that year.
2. The difficulty level of the exam.
3. The highest score and the average score obtained by the candidates.
4. The minimum qualifying marks.
5. The overall performance of the candidates.
How is percentile useful in NEET?
The percentile score is a very important parameter for admission to medical colleges as it is used to rank candidates and allocate seats according to their merit. It is also used to determine the minimum qualifying marks and cut off scores for various categories such as General, SC, ST, OBC, etc.
In addition, percentile scores are used by colleges to shortlist candidates for counseling and admission. They are also used by scholarship programs to identify potential candidates for financial assistance.
Conclusion
NEET is a highly competitive exam which requires a lot of hard work and dedication to crack. Percentile is a very important parameter in NEET as it is used to rank candidates and allocate seats in medical colleges.
By understanding the calculation of percentile in NEET and the factors that affect it, candidates can strategize their preparation and focus on improving their scores to increase their chances of admission to their desired colleges.