GATE Normalization Process is meant for only those papers which are conducted in multiple test sessions owing to large number of applicants. GATE results are usually declared about one month after the examinations are over. The results show the total marks scored by a candidate, the GATE score, the all-India rank and the cut off marks for various categories in the candidate’s paper. The score is valid for 3 years from the date of announcement of the results. The score cards are issued only to qualified candidates.
The GATE score of a candidate reflects the relative performance level of a candidate. The score is used for admissions to various post-graduate education programs (e.g. Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Doctor of Philosophy) in Indian higher education institutes, with financial assistance provided by MHRD and other government agencies.
Recently, GATE scores are also being used by several Indian public sector undertakings (i.e., government-owned companies) for recruiting graduate engineers in entry-level positions. It is one of the most competitive examinations in India. Based on the success story of IITs all over the world, GATE is also recognized by various international institutes such as Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Basis & Assumptions For GATE Normalization Process
From 2014 onward, examination for CE, CS, EC, EE and ME subjects is being held in multiple sessions. The raw scores of GATE papers which undergo normalization process before final evaluation include Civil Engineering (CE), Computer Science (CS), Electronics & Communication Engineering (EC), Electrical Engineering (EE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME).
Before final calculation of GATE Scores, the raw scores for these five papers are normalized to remove the discontinuity in difficulty level of different sessions.
The normalization of raw scores for multi-session papers is done based on the fundamental assumption that “in all multi-session GATE papers, the distribution of abilities of candidates is the same across all the sessions”. The normalization process equates the difficulty level of tests across multiple sessions with respect to collective performance of candidates in each of the sessions.
Once scores for the multi-session papers are normalized, the same formula is applied for calculation of final scores for all the papers. Further, it is also ensured that for the same multiple session paper, the number of candidates allotted in each session is of the same order of magnitude. AfterGraduation explains here the normalization process of GATE in detail so that candidates understand how their final scores are actually calculated for different papers.
Method to Normalized Raw GATE scores
The GATE paper, irrespective of the test subjects carries a total 100 marks. Based on the above assumptions, the following formula is used for calculating the normalized marks for the multiple session test papers (CE, CS, EC, EE and ME).
After evaluation of the actual responses in the GATE response sheet, the raw scores of the candidates are normalized based on the above formula. Further, GATE score is calculated based on the normalized marks.
The normalization of raw scores is not required for the GATE papers which are held in only one session. Actual marks obtained by candidates are used for calculating the GATE score in such cases.
Calculation Of GATE Score
After the evaluation of the answers, normalized marks based on the above formula will be calculated corresponding to the raw marks obtained by a candidate for CE, CS, EC, EE and ME papers and the GATE 2017 Score will be calculated based on the normalized marks. For all other papers, actual marks obtained will be used for calculating the GATE 2017 Score.
For single as well as multiple-session papers, GATE score is calculated using the formula given below. Here, M is the raw scores obtained by a candidate for single session test papers. For test papers conducted in multiple sessions, M is the normalized scores.
The final score card, based on the above evaluation process, is made available to the candidates. Final GATE scores are generally made available for download in last week of March for candidates who qualify the national test.
After the declaration of the results, GATE Score Cards will be downloadable to all candidates whose marks are greater than or equal to the qualifying mark in their respective papers. There is no provision for the issue of additional GATE Score Cards. The GATE Committee has the authority to decide the qualifying mark/score for each GATE paper.
Percentile:
A candidate’s percentile denotes the percentage of candidates scoring lower than that particular candidate. It is calculated as:
Percentile = ( 1 – All India rank/No. of candidates in that subject ) x 100%
Old Formula
Till GATE 2012 (and year 2013-14 of the 2-year validity period of GATE 2013 score), the score was calculated using the formula:
GATE score = {\displaystyle 10(a_{g}+s_{g}{\frac {m-a}{S}})}
where,
- m = Marks obtained by the candidate,
- a = Average of marks of all candidates who appeared in that subject, in that year, with marks less than zero converted to zero,
- S = Standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared in that subject, in that year, with marks less than zero converted to zero,
- ag = Global average of marks of all candidates who appeared across all subjects in current and past 5 years (i.e. 2010 to 2013 for GATE 2013), with marks less than zero converted to zero,
- sg = Global standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared across all subjects in current and past 0 years (i.e. 2010 to 2013 for GATE 2013), with marks less than zero converted to zero.
