The National Testing Agency (NTA) explained on Thursday why 67 students received the top rank in the NEET-UG entrance exam, addressing concerns about inflated scores. They said this happened because they had to revise the answer key and give extra marks to students who lost time during the exam.
In their statement, the NTA mentioned two main reasons for the higher scores. First, there were changes made to the NCERT textbooks, which affected the answers. Second, some students faced issues at the exam centers that caused delays, so the National Testing Agency awarded them extra marks to make up for the lost time.
NTA Clarifies Higher Cut-Offs and Record Number of Toppers
The National Testing Agency =announced on Thursday that the higher cut-off scores and increased number of top-ranking students in the NEET-UG exam highlight its competitive nature. The NTA clarified that these cut-off scores are based on the candidates’ overall yearly performance.
This statement from the NTA follows accusations of irregularities and grade inflation in the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test). Some candidates claimed there was mark inflation, resulting in an unprecedented 67 students achieving the top rank, with six of them coming from the same exam center in Haryana.
The NEET UG 2024 exam took place on May 5 across 4,750 centers in 571 cities, including 14 international locations, with over 24 lakh candidates participating.
The authority denied these allegations in its Thursday statement, attributing the higher scores to changes in NCERT textbooks and grace marks given for lost time at exam centers.
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NTA Cut Off Score Clarification
The NTA stated that cutoff scores are set annually based on candidates’ overall performance. The rise in cutoff scores highlights the exam’s competitive nature and the higher performance levels of candidates this year. Cutoff scores and average marks (out of 720) change each year.
The authority also noted that 20,38,596 candidates took the exam in 2023, while 23,33,297 candidates appeared in 2024. This increase in candidates contributed to a higher number of top scorers.
NTA Grace Marks Clarification
Regarding the grace marks given to certain students, the NTA explained that several petitions were submitted to the high courts of Punjab and Haryana, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh. These petitions highlighted concerns about lost exam time at specific centers during the NEET-UG test.
The NTA investigated these concerns, confirming the loss of exam time through the petitions and representations. As a result, 1,563 students received compensatory marks, ranging from -20 to 720. Notably, two students scored 718 and 719 marks due to these adjustments.
The authority also confirmed, based on CCTV footage analysis, that the integrity of the examination was maintained.
New NCERT Textbooks Clarification from NTA
Responding to concerns about grace marks, an NTA official explained to PTI that the exam questions were based on the latest NCERT textbooks. However, some students used older versions of these textbooks.
The official stated, “We received complaints about this issue. As a result, NTA decided to award five extra marks to all students who selected one of the two correct options. This adjustment increased the scores of 44 students from 715 to 720, leading to more students achieving top ranks.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. Why did the NTA award extra marks in NEET-UG 2024?
Ans. The authority awarded extra marks due to changes in NCERT textbooks and to compensate for lost exam time at certain centers.
Q.2. What caused the higher cut-off scores in NEET-UG 2024?
Ans. The higher cut-off scores were due to improved overall performance of candidates and a competitive exam environment.
Q.3. How many students received top ranks in NEET-UG 2024?
Ans. A record 67 students received top ranks in NEET-UG 2024.
Q.4. What issues were faced by students at the exam centers?
Ans. Some students faced delays at exam centers, leading the NTA to award compensatory marks for the lost time.
Q.5. How did the NCERT textbook changes affect NEET-UG 2024 scores?
Ans. Changes in NCERT textbooks led to revised answer keys, which, along with the awarded grace marks, increased scores for some students.
