Xavier Labour Relations Institute re-checks 92,000 entrance test papers

MUMBAI: In a first, XLRI (Xavier Labour Relations Institute), Jamshedpur, has re-evaluated the answer books of all the over 92,000 management aspirants who took the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) following two complaints from students. The institute, which nullified the marks it released 10 days ago, declared the fresh results on Monday. The decision is significant coming as it does at a time when top B-schools do not allow their aspirants to apply for a re-evaluation. Like the CAT, XAT scores are accepted by 91 other B-schools across India.XAT was held on January 6, 2013, and the results declared on January 17. The scores were particularly low in the quantitative techniques (QT) section paper when compared with the corresponding marks in answer keys published by different coaching institutes. XLRI received two complaints from students who claimed there had been a technical error and their QT scores were erroneous.“One of the two complaints was prima facie without any basis. But then when I looked at the other complaint, I realized there was probably a technical error in the computer programme,” said Vishwa Ballabh, admission chairperson. “If there is an error, we cannot be choosy and change the result of only those who had complained. We decided to have a relook at all the results as the emphasis of an exam must be on correctness and fairness,” he added.The institute’s director and board agreed, and the fresh results were issued. The revised scores and percentile of all candidates were updated on the XLRI website by Monday evening. While it is difficult to give a range of how much the students’ score had slid, the minimum cut-off placed by XLRI for the QT section is down from 90% to 76.2%.The new scores have relatively fallen for every student and will affect admissions in every B-school. “The topper has been affected a bit and other students down the line have been affected a bit more,” explained Ballabh.Sources are not very clear if there was a major mistake. It seems the problem of unexpectedly low marks (after cross-checking with keys) was not faced by all the test takers, but about 10% of the candidates. That, however, altered the rankings and percentile scores of almost everyone. “Respect for XLRI has only increased among students as also the integrity of the exam and institution,” said a coaching class owner.