How to Calculate CSIR NET score?

The National Testing Agency is on the edge of conducting the much-awaited Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test (CSIR NET) exam, which is scheduled to be held from 28th February 2025. Candidates aspiring for top academic positions in the science domain would be preparing hard to clear the CSIR NET Cut Off to qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Lectureship (Assistant Professor).

All the estimations about the Final CSIR NET Scorecard are done based on the CSIR NET scores being calculated comprehensively for all the 3 sections: Sections A, B and C, Normalization Process and Cut Off. In this article, We will be discussing all the aspects that affect and contribute to the calculation of CSIR NET Score.

CSIR NET Exam Pattern

The CSIR NET exam comprises three parts: Part A, Part B, and Part C, each containing objective-type multiple-choice questions. There is no sectional time break, and candidates must attempt questions as per the prescribed limits for their subject. Below is the subject-wise CSIR NET Exam Pattern:

CSIR NET Qualifying Marks

To qualify for CSIR NET JRF and Assistant Professor (Lectureship), candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks as per their category. Plus, this is to be noted by all the aspirants that the qualifying marks are only the minimum eligibility criteria, and candidates must score higher than the cutoff marks to be selected for JRF or Lectureship. The table below provides the details:

CSIR NET Normalization Process

Being a national-level exam with high volume of applicants, the CSIR NET exam is conducted in multiple shifts. Hence, variations in difficulty levels across shifts are adjusted using the Normalization Process. The raw marks obtained by candidates are converted into NTA Scores (Percentile Scores) to ensure fairness. This method ensures that candidates who faced a more difficult paper are not at a disadvantage, and those who received an easier paper do not get an unfair advantage.

CSIR NET Cut Off

The CSIR NET Cut Off is the minimum score that candidates must achieve to qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Assistant Professor (Lectureship) positions. The final cutoff marks are determined only after the normalization process is applied to the raw scores. Since the CSIR NET exam is conducted in multiple shifts, normalization ensures fairness by adjusting for variations in difficulty levels across different sessions.

CSIR NET Final Score Card

The CSIR NET Final Score Card is released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after the completion of the score calculation and normalization process. It serves as an official document that provides candidates with their performance details in the examination. The scorecard includes crucial information such as:

• Raw Scores: These are the actual marks obtained by the candidate before the normalization process.
• Normalized Scores (NTA Scores): Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, the raw marks are converted into a normalized score using the equi-percentile method to ensure fairness.
• Percentile Scores: This score indicates the candidate’s relative performance compared to other test-takers.
• Cutoff Marks: The minimum marks required to qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor eligibility.
• Eligibility Status: It mentions whether the candidate has qualified for JRF, Assistant Professor, or both.

How to Calculate CSIR NET Score?

With so many steps and complications in the CSIR NET calculation process, it might seem overwhelming for a while. So, to facilitate our future JRFs and Assistant Professors, we have fetched the method being used to calculate the final scorecard. Understanding this process ensures transparency in selection and helps candidates estimate their performance.

Step 1: Calculation of Raw Score

The raw score is calculated based on the candidate’s correct and incorrect responses. The marking scheme varies for each subject but generally follows this structure:

• Correct answers: Awarded marks as per the section-wise marking scheme.
• Incorrect answers: Negative marking is applied, reducing marks for incorrect responses.
• Unattempted questions: No marks deducted or awarded.

The raw score formula is: Raw Score = (Total Marks from Correct Answers) − (Negative Marks from Incorrect Answers)

Step 2: Apply the Normalization Process

Since CSIR NET is conducted in multiple shifts, there may be slight differences in difficulty levels across different sessions. To ensure fairness, the Equi-Percentile Normalization Method is used to adjust scores.

• The raw marks obtained in each shift are converted into an NTA Score (Percentile Score).
• The lowest percentile score for eligibility across all shifts is considered the cutoff.

Step 3: Calculation of NTA Score (Percentile Score)

The percentile score represents a candidate’s performance relative to others and is calculated using the formula:

Step 4: Cutoff Determination

After normalization, NTA releases the category-wise and subject-wise cutoff marks. Candidates who score above the cutoff are eligible for JRF and/or Assistant Professor positions.

Step 5: Release of Final Scorecard

Once percentile scores are calculated for all shifts, the lowest percentile score among the shifts is considered as the final cutoff percentile for that category. The final NTA score is then used to determine eligibility for JRF or Assistant Professorship.

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