[Explained] Cut-Off Marks, Proportional Representation, Scaling system for 2010's Prelim
this is only for complete newcomers,
because UPSC doesn't explain these things to the candidates & coaching classes won't tell you complete story.


[h1]click on this chart to easily understand everything.[/h1]
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/...d5556197_m.jpg

[h1]How does it start?[/h1]
  • December 2009, UPSC issues notification for 2010's Exam
  • Suppose there are 1000 Vacancies
  • (Just for example & easy calculation)
  • 1000 Vacancies means UPSC had decided that--
  1. Vacancy X10= 14,000 People will be sent to Mains after prelims
  2. Vacancy X2= 2000 People will be sent to interview after mains
[h1]Proportional Representation[/h1]
you've to chose an optional subject for prelims.
suppose
  1. total 1,00,000 People appear in Prelim
  2. You chose History as your Opt. subject,
  3. suppose 10,000 people appear with History in Prelims
Now in Prelims, the Ratio of History People to Total candidates
HTML Code:
=1,00,000/ 10,000
=10
  • UPSC will maintain the same ratio for mains exam
  • so they'll allow that much number of people from History to pass the prelim Exam
  • Like we saw ago, UPSC had decided that 10000 people will be sent to mains (i.e.Vacancy X 10=10,000)
Now to maintain same ratio of Historymen in Mains, they'll do this

HTML Code:
=10,000 [Number of total seats in mains] divided by 10 [Ratio of Historymen in Prelim]
= 1000 people from history will be allowed to pass Prelims
Thus, by taking a popular subject, you've more seats = easier to crack prelims!
(I don't recommend you take your optionals based on that consideration only.)
thus a vicious cycle is created,
  • every year more people will appear in history thinking 'its a scoring subject' and
  • more coaching classes will open giving coaching into that, and
  • more advertizements will be displayed about how their students got selected with perticular subject, =
  • more people will go to take coaching in the given subject.
[h1]Reform?[/h1]
UPSC wants to end this cycle, hence they're talking about removing the optional system but since its a bureaucratic structure, don't expect them to radically reform everything in 2010's exam and so keep preparing your optional subejct until their notification is out in December 2010.
[h1]Cut-Off in Prelim[/h1]
  • In the Prelims, UPSC makes a seperate merit list for each subject group. (and sub-seperate list for General/SC/ST/OBC/Physically Handicapped)
  • your merit number in your subject group = [GS + Opt Subject's] Total Marks
  • you now understood 1000 kids will be from history (proportional representation)
  • so the 1000th History kid who gets selected in prelim - his marks are called the 'cut-off' marks for that subject.
  • (but UPSC never discloses either cut-off or your merit number)
  • thus, cut-off marks is brainchild of Delhi's coaching classes for their advertizement propoganda.
[h1]Prelim Subjectwise-Reservation Category Merit list is combo of GS+Opt.Sub's marks[/h1]
  • so, it doesn't mean that you can score low in GS and yet you'll crack the prelims if you had scored that magical 'cut-off' marks in your Opt. (or reverse)
  • means both GS and Optional Subject are equally important
  • means if 90 was the cut off for Public Administration last year,
[h1]cut-off marks change every year depending on[/h1]
  1. Number of Vacancies
  2. Number of people appearing with same subject
  3. toughness of the Q?paper
[h1]What is difference in Prelims & Mains?[/h1]
  1. in short, Prelims is MCQ (Multiple choice questions | like Kaun Banega Crorepati) type of exam whose marks don't get counted in final selection
  2. but you've to pass the prelims so that UPSC allows you to sit in mains
  3. Mains exam is descriptive (essay like) type answers, whose marks are counted in final selection.
  4. After Prelims in May 2010, the Mains will held in October 2010
[h1]How can I sit in the Mains?[/h1]
  1. you can only appear in Main if you clear the prelim of given year.
  2. that means if you passed prelim in 2007, doesn't mean that you can appear in mains of 2009.
  3. UPSC will send you application form of mains exam once you clear the prelim.
[h1]Scaling system (In Mains)[/h1]
  • scaling system is to make sure that people from humanities subjects (arts) don't have compititive disadvantage vis-a-vis the scientific subjects (maths/physics/engineering)
  • suppose you've English literature and got 55/100
  • I had maths I got 100/100.
  • thus theoritically, no matter how much you try you can never get selected. but to solve that problem, UPSC invented the scaling system.
  • Thus, after the mains answersheets are checked, they'll apply a mysterious scalling formula based on which some of my marks will be deducted and some more makrs will be alloted to you - thus we both get on a 'common scale'
  • i.e. after the scaling you might have 75/100 and mine would be reduced to 70/100.
  • so based on that new merit list is made,
  • they'll call people for interview. based on that new merit list.
  • the scaling system ends there because everyone now is on a common scale.
  • and in interview everyone faces the same 300 marks interview, irrespective of his/her optional subject.
  • so there is just one common merit list for everyone after interview.
  • = No scaling system / proportional representation in final selection after interview (held in April 2010)

after this scaling system you should have understood that the 'scoring subjects' is a story cooked up by the coaching classes.