What is Normalization?
If you have appeared for any major competitive exam conducted in multiple shifts, you have surely heard the term "normalization". Normalization is a statistical process used by exam bodies like SSC and RRB to ensure that candidates are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by the difficulty level of their specific exam shift.
Why is Normalization Necessary?
Exams like SSC CGL, CHSL, and RRB NTPC are conducted over many days and in multiple shifts. It is impossible to create question papers of the exact same difficulty for every single shift. One shift might be slightly easier, while another might be tougher. Normalization adjusts the raw scores of all candidates to a common scale, making them comparable across all shifts.
How Does It Work?
The exact formula can be complex, but it generally involves calculating parameters like the average score and standard deviation for each shift. Your final, normalized score could be higher or lower than your raw score depending on the difficulty of your paper compared to others. A tough shift usually leads to an increase in marks, while an easy shift might see a smaller increase or even a slight decrease.
ExamRanks uses a standard and statistically sound normalization method to provide you with a predicted normalized score, giving you a clear idea of where you stand.