
The Railway Recruitment Board has introduced a major change in the RRB JE normalization process, bringing a new percentile-based evaluation system for multi-shift examinations. This RRB JE New Normalisation Rule will apply to competitive exams like RRB JE, NTPC, and ALP, ensuring a fair comparison of candidates across different shifts.
This update is crucial for aspirants preparing for RRB JE 2025 and upcoming RRB JE 2026 exams, as the final merit will now depend on percentile score normalization instead of simple raw marks comparison.
When exams are conducted in multiple shifts, difficulty levels may vary:
Some shifts may have easier question papers, leading to higher raw scores.
Others may be tougher, resulting in lower marks.
Without normalization, this difference can create unfair advantages or disadvantages. The RRB JE 2026 normalization process statistically adjusts marks so that performance is judged fairly relative to each shift.
The biggest change is the adoption of a percentile score system.
Scores are scaled between 0 and 100.
The topper of each shift receives 100 percentile.
Other candidates are ranked relative to performance within the same shift.
This method ensures equal evaluation regardless of paper difficulty.
| Feature | Percentage Score | Percentile Score |
| Meaning | Marks obtained out of total | Percentage of candidates scoring ≤ you |
| Nature | Absolute performance | Relative performance in shift |
| Example | 95/100 = 95% | 95 percentile means 95% candidates scored equal or lower |
| Use in RRB JE | Not used for merit | Used for final normalization & ranking |
Understanding this difference is essential for RRB JE aspirants.
Percentile Score = (Number of candidates in the shift with raw score ≤ your score ÷ Total candidates in that shift) × 100
After calculating percentile scores for all shifts:
Scores are merged across shifts.
Final RRB JE merit list is prepared using normalized percentile values.
Candidates do not need to calculate this manually—RRB handles it automatically.
Percentile scores will be calculated up to five decimal places.
This reduces the chance of identical scores.
If a tie still occurs:
Older candidate gets higher rank.
If age is also same → alphabetical order of names decides rank.
These rules ensure transparent and fair ranking.
RRB also introduced the “Base Shift” mechanism:
Uses statistical averages (mean scores) of a reference shift.
Helps compare percentile distribution across shifts.
Final normalized marks are adjusted using this internal reference.
This improves accuracy and fairness in the RRB JE new normalization rule.
Raw marks alone will not decide selection.
Relative performance within shift becomes crucial.
Consistency and accuracy matter more than attempting only easy questions.
Preparation strategy should focus on maximizing percentile, not just marks.
This makes the RRB JE 2026 biggest update highly important for serious candidates.