The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has announced a major change in the normalisation of scores for its recruitment examinations. The commission will now implement the equipercentile method, replacing the earlier practice of using average and top scores for score adjustments.
SSC Normalisation 2025: Introduction of Equipercentile Method
The newly introduced system is designed to ensure fair comparisons of candidate performance across different exam shifts. Under this method, a candidate’s percentile rank in a given shift is matched with the corresponding percentile rank in other shifts, thereby reducing the effect of varying difficulty levels. According to SSC, the decision reflects its effort to maintain transparency and fairness in recruitment examinations that see participation from lakhs of candidates across India.
Why the Change Was Needed
Earlier, normalisation was based on average scores or top-performing scores, which often raised concerns about fairness, especially in exams conducted over multiple sessions. With the equipercentile system:
- Scores are aligned across shifts based on percentile equivalence.
- Shift difficulty variations are balanced, reducing candidate disadvantage.
- Selection outcomes become more reliable and less dependent on exam slot assignment.
This step is expected to strengthen confidence in the examination process and ensure that all candidates are evaluated on equal grounds.
Implementation and Availability of Details
SSC first published the details of the new normalisation procedure on June 2, 2025, through its official portal. The announcement confirmed that the method would be applied to upcoming examinations, making the system more robust and standardised. Candidates preparing for SSC exams are advised to carefully review the updated guidelines to understand how scores will be calculated and compared under the new framework.
