Cutoff Score Changes
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) made a significant announcement regarding the NEET-PG 2025 examination. The qualifying marks
have been revised, allowing for a broader pool of candidates to be eligible for counseling. Specifically, the cutoff percentile for SC, ST, and OBC candidates has been reduced to zero percentile, which effectively means that even candidates with the lowest scores are now eligible. For the general and EWS categories, the cutoff has also been adjusted, falling from the 50th to the 7th percentile. This corresponds to a reduction in the required score from 276 to 103 marks. The primary goal behind these changes is to ensure that available seats in medical colleges are filled, providing more opportunities for candidates to pursue postgraduate medical education. However, it's crucial to understand that while eligibility expands, the ultimate allocation of seats still depends on factors beyond the percentile, primarily the candidate's rank and merit in the examination. Registering for the third round of counseling with all necessary documents ready is advised to those who appeared for the NEET PG exam.
Understanding Percentiles
To understand the recent changes, it's essential to grasp the concept of percentiles. A percentile is a rank-based measure that signifies where a candidate stands relative to others who took the exam. It doesn’t directly represent the percentage of marks obtained. Instead, it indicates the percentage of candidates who scored lower than a specific individual. For instance, if a candidate scores at the 70th percentile, it means they performed better than 70% of the other candidates. The calculation of percentiles takes into account various factors, including the rank ordering of candidates, any ties in scores, and potential differences in difficulty levels across different exam shifts. The reduction in the cutoff to zero percentile implies that the minimum threshold to qualify has been significantly lowered, allowing a wider range of candidates to participate in the counseling process. However, qualifying does not guarantee a seat; merit and rank will still be important in the admissions process.
Negative Marking Explained
A peculiar aspect of the NEET PG examination involves negative marking. Questions in the exam are typically multiple-choice, where each correct answer awards the student four marks. Conversely, incorrect answers lead to a penalty of one mark. Unattempted questions, however, do not affect the score and receive zero marks. This system of negative marking can significantly impact a candidate’s final score. For instance, a candidate who answers 10 questions correctly would score 40 marks (10 multiplied by 4). However, if the same candidate also answers 80 questions incorrectly, they would incur a penalty of 80 marks. The resulting score would be minus 40, which signifies that the number of incorrect answers has outweighed the correct ones. The recent lowering of cutoffs has prompted questions about admissions, considering the possibility of negative scores like minus 40. This highlights the importance of strategic test-taking, where candidates must balance attempting questions with the risk of losing marks for incorrect answers. The situation has caused significant discussion online.
Cutoff vs. Rank
The relationship between percentile cutoff, category, and rank is crucial in understanding the admission process. The percentile cutoff determines eligibility for counseling, while rank and merit play a pivotal role in the order of seat selection. The category or quota specifies the seats candidates can claim. Even with a zero percentile cutoff, seat selection continues to rely on rank. For instance, a candidate with a rank corresponding to a negative score like minus 40 might only secure a seat if the candidates with higher ranks do not fill all available positions. This system ensures that the most deserving candidates, based on their performance, are prioritized for seat allocation. This approach emphasizes that even when the eligibility criteria are broadened, the merit of the candidates remains a core factor. The goal of this change is to maximize seat utilization in medical colleges. The admission process depends on several factors, including rank, merit, options, seat availability, category, and college-specific requirements. Candidates should ensure they are well-informed about all these factors to navigate the admissions process effectively.
