Once every applicant's aggregate is calculated using the same formula, universities rank candidates from highest to lowest to form a merit list — understanding how this process actually works helps set realistic expectations.
How Merit Lists Are Built
Every applicant's aggregate is calculated using the identical formula, then ranked from highest to lowest. Seats are offered in order of rank, typically across several rounds as accepted candidates confirm or decline their offers.
Why Cutoffs Shift Year to Year
The cutoff (lowest aggregate that received an offer) isn't fixed — it depends on how many seats are available and how competitive that year's applicant pool is. A cutoff from a previous year is a rough guide, not a guarantee, especially in years with unusually high or low numbers of applicants.
What a Narrow Margin Means
In competitive programs, hundreds of applicants can cluster within a fraction of a percentage point near the cutoff — meaning small aggregate differences (even 0.5%) can shift your position by dozens of ranks. This is exactly why precise, error-free aggregate calculation matters more than it might initially seem.
If You're Near the Cutoff
Applying to multiple universities and programs simultaneously is standard practice precisely because formulas and cutoffs vary so much between them — a result that falls short at one university may comfortably clear the cutoff at another with a different weightage formula.
Conclusion
Calculate your aggregate precisely for each university you're considering with our Aggregate Calculator — custom weightages let you compare your real chances across multiple options.