Students scoring less than 660 marks now have a very poor chance of securing admission to government medical colleges, in contrast to the previous year where students with 600 marks were able to secure seats in government colleges.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) recently announced the results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate (UG) 2024, which has sparked widespread controversy among students and parents. The results, which were released on June 4, have raised concerns over the normalization process and cut-off scores, leading to demands for explanations and investigations from stakeholders.
Unprecedented Number of Top Scorers
The results have taken several students by surprise, with an unprecedented number of students, 67, bagging the perfect score of 720 out of 720. This has led to concerns over the fairness of the examination, with parents claiming that the marks of 718 and 719 are impossible to achieve in the paper. The NTA has attributed the higher scores to changes in NCERT textbooks and the awarding of grace marks for lost examination time.
Normalization Process Under Scrutiny
The normalization process, which is used to adjust the difficulty level across different shifts of the exam, has come under scrutiny. The NTA has stated that the normalization formula, devised and adopted by the Supreme Court in 2018, was implemented to address the loss of time faced by candidates. However, parents are seeking a thorough investigation into the alleged discrepancies in the results before the counselling commences.
Cut-off Scores and Admission Chances
The cut-off scores have also risen significantly, from 137 to 164, affecting the admission chances of students. Students scoring less than 660 marks now have a very poor chance of securing admission to government medical colleges, in contrast to the previous year where students with 600 marks were able to secure seats in government colleges.
NTA's Explanation
The NTA has explained that the increase in cut-off scores is due to the competitive nature of the examination and the higher performance standards achieved by the candidates this year. The agency has also stated that the normalization process was applied to a few cities, including the one where six students from the same exam center in Haryana scored full marks.
Concerns Over Implementation of Grace Marks
Parents have raised concerns over the implementation of grace marks due to waste of time, claiming that the provision should have been specified in the information brochure. The NTA has acknowledged that discrepancies between old and new NCERT textbooks led to the alteration of one question's answer key, resulting in some candidates receiving marks ranging from 718 to 720.
Impact on Students and Parents
The controversy has taken a toll on students and parents, with one 18-year-old girl committing suicide after the results were declared, taking the tally to 11 NEET-related suicides this year. Parents are seeking a thorough investigation into the alleged discrepancies in the results before the counselling commences.
The NEET-UG 2024 results controversy highlights the need for transparency and clarity in the examination process. The normalization process and cut-off scores must be explained in detail to alleviate concerns among students and parents. The NTA must ensure that the examination process is fair and equitable, providing equal opportunities to all candidates.
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