Identify the purpose of the cutoff (admission, recruitment, exam qualification, merit list).
Confirm the cutoff type (minimum qualifying marks, category-wise cutoff, overall cutoff, sectional cutoff).
Gather required data (total marks, marks scored by candidates, number of seats/posts, reservation rules, exam difficulty/normalization method if applicable).
Decide the cutoff basis:
Fixed cutoff (predetermined minimum marks)
Percentile-based cutoff (e.g., top X percentile)
Rank/seat-based cutoff (based on merit order and available seats)
Category-wise cutoff (separate thresholds per category)
Sectional cutoff (minimum per subject/section)
If using fixed cutoff:
Set cutoff = predetermined minimum marks (or percent) for each category/section.
If using percentile cutoff:
Convert candidate scores to percentiles using the exam score distribution.
Cutoff = the score corresponding to the required percentile threshold.
If using seat/rank-based cutoff:
Sort candidates by merit (total marks or normalized score).
Determine the number of seats/posts available for each category.
Cutoff = the score of the last selected candidate (or the minimum score among selected candidates).
If using normalization:
Use the specified normalization formula.
Compute normalized scores for all candidates.
Apply the chosen cutoff method using normalized scores.
If sectional cutoff applies:
Ensure candidates meet both overall cutoff and each required sectional cutoff.
Cutoff may be computed per section separately.
Apply tie-handling rules:
Use tie-break criteria (higher sectional marks, earlier submission, age, etc.) as per policy.
Recompute cutoff if ties affect selection boundary.
If negative marking exists:
Use final scored marks after penalties (as defined by the exam scheme).
Present cutoff:
Report cutoff as marks (and/or percentage) for each category/section and overall as applicable.