AFCAT Normalization Scheme 2024

AFCAT Normalization Scheme: AFCAT, or the Air Force Common Admission Test, is a national-level examination conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to select qualified candidates for Class 1 Gazetted Services in Flying and Ground Duty. Recently, the IAF introduced a significant modification to the AFCAT exam with the implementation of the AFCAT Normalisation Scheme. This article delves into this new addition.

In 2022, the IAF brought about a substantial change by introducing the AFCAT Normalisation Scheme. This process is typically employed to standardize candidates' scores across multiple shifts. The AFCAT 1 2024 results will be the second instance of the AFCAT result based on the AFCAT Normalisation Process in the IAF's history.

Questions naturally arise: Why did the IAF make such a historic change in the exam process? What would be its impact? How should aspirants respond to this change? What strategy should they adopt to secure a good score? This article aims to address all your concerns regarding the AFCAT Normalisation Scheme.

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What is AFCAT Normalization?

AFCAT Normalisation is carried out mostly for competitive exams that are conducted in multiple shifts/sessions. It is carried out so that candidates are uniformly allotted marks based on the difficulty of their shift. The AFCAT Normalisation process also ensures that candidates are judged based on their merit.

Let us understand this concept with the help of an example. Let us say that two best friends A and B studied together for the AFCAT exam. Out of the two A was allotted a shift where the question paper was on the tougher side. Whereas B was allotted a shift where the question paper was on the easier side. Due to this asymmetry in the difficulty level of the AFCAT exam, both candidates obtained the following marks:

As you can see from the above table, student A was allotted a comparatively difficult shift, therefore to ensure a level playing field AFCAT Normalisation was done.

AFCAT Normalization Scheme: Formula for Calculation

The AFCAT Normalisation formula follows a statistical pattern as given below.

where,

Why AFCAT Normalization Scheme is Introduced by IAF? 

The AFCAT exam, initially an OMR-based paper since its inception in 2011, transitioned to a Computer Based Test (CBT) in 2019. While there have been some minor adjustments in subsequent exams, AFCAT 2 2022 marked a significant change with the introduction of the Normalisation Process. The reasons behind implementing this normalization scheme are outlined below:

• Uniform Selection Process: The introduction of normalization aims to ensure consistency in the selection process and assess candidates' merit on a standardized scale.
• Fair Evaluation: With variations in the difficulty levels of question papers across different shifts, candidates might perceive an unfair evaluation. Since it is not feasible to have identical question papers for all shifts, the normalization process addresses this concern, eliminating feelings of unfairness and score disparities.

The surge in the number of applicants, coupled with diverse question paper difficulty levels, prompted the IAF to introduce the notable AFCAT Normalisation Scheme.

AFCAT Normalization Scheme: Pros and Cons

Although the process of AFCAT Normalisation is conducted by authorities across various examinations there are certain apprehensions about this scheme. Let us consider the various pros and cons of the AFCAT Normalisation which might clear the air regarding any confusion if at all it exists.

AFCAT Normalization Scheme: Cons

Some of the cons of the AFCAT Normalization are mentioned below:

• It has been observed in a few instances that after normalization the difference in marks becomes 2X as compared to the percentile before normalization.
• This might lead to discrepancies in the assessment. Every aspirant appears in a variety of competitive exams. Therefore, they might be scoring well in others and scoring low in AFCAT due to normalization.
• The process can have a significant impact on the psyche and mental health of the appearing candidates mainly due to the confusion about the normalization scheme.
• The normalization process is carried out based on the assumption that aspirants appearing for various shifts have the same ability.

AFCAT Normalization Scheme: Pros

The following are some pros of the AFCAT Normalization:

• Implementation of the normalization scheme would ensure that unfair advantage is not given to the students appearing for a relatively easier shift of the AFCAT exam.
• The normalization scheme is carried out for various competitive national and state-level exams, which have been conducted smoothly.
• It ensures a level playing field for all the candidates irrespective of their previous marks or academic background.
• As the candidates are allotted sessions randomly it is ensured that the prospective candidates are equally distributed across sessions.
• To be fair to all the appearing candidates some sort of correction or normalization needs to be applied.

To sum up, candidates need to understand that the AFCAT Normalisation Scheme has been carried out by the IAF to maintain fairness in the final results. For the EKT exam, the same AFCAT Normalisation process will be used. Applicants must score above or equal to the cutoff to be eligible for the examination. The normalisation of AFCAT marks is used to calculate the cutoff to qualify for the EKT stage. Applicants must keep in mind that the EKT exam is merely a qualifying test, and the results will not be revised for merit in the final results.

If you have any other doubts or queries, write to us in the QnA Zone. You can fill out the Common Application Form (CAF) or call the toll-free number 1800-572-9877 for any admission-related queries. For more AFCAT-related exciting information, stay tuned to CollegeDekho!