IIT-JEE Cutoff Formula Unchanged

IIT-JEE Cutoff Formula Unchanged


For the first time in three years, the IITs have decided to stick with their formula to compute subject-wise cutoffs for the upcoming Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). This year will follow last year's formula, where the cutoff will be the average of the marks scored by all candidates in each subject. Under the retained system, the subject-wise cutoff, now called the Minimum Qualifying Mark for Ranking (MQMR), will be the average of the marks scored by all candidates in each subject. The move is hoped to raise the subject-wise cutoffs to two digits, unlike the past three years. The JEE cutoffs have been a source of irritation for the IITs as they have been facing single-digit subject cutoffs - including a cutoff of zero for the Physics paper in 2008. Last year, the IITs devised a new formula after receiving flak over low subject cutoffs, but the results were not too impressive. The cutoffs for JEE, 2009 was 8 for Physics, and 11 for both Mathematics and Chemistry -- barely better than the previous two years. While the subject cutoffs are only the first filter for eliminating candidates, the low figures have led to a situation where candidates with very low scores in one subject, but with reasonable scores overall, have managed to get admission into one of the IITs. For instance, the last candidate admitted in the Scheduled Caste (SC) category this year scored just 5 in Physics. Candidates who have scored 15 in Physics or 12 in Mathematics or 11 in Chemistry in the general category have also made it to the JEE merit list. In JEE 2008, the cutoffs were 5 in mathematics, 0 in physics, and 3 in chemistry. JEE 2007 was no better, with cutoffs of 1 in Mathematics, 4 in Physics and 3 in Chemistry. For JEE 2008, the IITs decided to move away from a much more complex method followed in 2007. Under this, students in the top 80 per cent of every subject were considered for admission. For JEE 2007, the subject cutoffs were arrived at by subtracting the standard deviation for each subject from the average of each subject. IIT-JEE 2010 will be conducted on April 11, 2010 & the result will be declared on May 26, 2010.

Contents by Manoj Sharma