Reflections on the CGL 2019 Tier 1 Exam and Normalization

The competitive government recruitment examination, CGL 2019 Tier 1, is a rigorous and demanding test that challenges many aspirants. This article delves into the experiences of three individuals who attempted the examination in March 2019 and March 2020. These candid accounts provide insights into their performance, anxiety, and the hope for fair normalization.

March 4th, Shift 3, 2019

Rohit, a first-time CGL aspirant, writes about his experience taking the examination on March 4th, 2019. He scored a raw score of 136 and was worried that it was lower than the previous year's cutoff. Despite being satisfied with his performance, the process of normalization left him hopeful for a potential increase in marks.

Raw Score: 136

Reasoning: 32

Quantitative Aptitude: 32

General Awareness: 25

English: 42.5

Total: 131.5

Rohit's analysis reveals that:

His English section was particularly strong, with a raw score of 42.5. Despite not having read any books on English post-September 2018, he attributes his success to a good learning memory. The Quantitative Aptitude section was also strong, with a raw score of 45, but he made two minor calculation errors. Reasoning was more challenging for him, scoring only 38, as he had not prepared it extensively. The General Awareness section was significantly harder, with only 25 marks out of 100, indicating the difficulty level of that section. He expects normalization to potentially help his score, as the exam seems to have become more luck-dependent in recent years.

March 7th, Shift 3, 2019

Another first-time CGL aspirant scored 131.5 on March 7th, 2019. Her performance was as follows:

Raw Score: 135 Reasoning: 32 Quantitative Aptitude: 32 General Awareness: 25 English: 42.5

This candidate was also anxious about the adverse normalization effects, which can impact a candidate's score drastically.

March 5th, 2020

A third candidate, an OBC (Other Backward Classes) aspirant, took the March 5th, 2020 CGL Tier 1 exam. He took the exam without extensive preparation, having covered only a few basic study materials.

Performance Breakdown:

General Awareness: 30 marks attempted, scored 15 English: 41.5 raw score Quantitative Aptitude: 16 attempts, scored 24.5 Reasoning: 20 attempts, scored 37.5 Total: 133.5 out of 200

This candidate was particularly worried about clearing the cutoff, despite the shift being one of the easiest.

He reflects on the nature of the examination, stating that without preparation, a candidate can still score well if the paper is easy. However, a poor performance on a lucky day can severely impact the score. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of preparation and smart study techniques in order to excel in the CGL 2023 examination.

Conclusion

These candid examinations and performance analyses highlight the challenges and uncertainties of CGL 2019 Tier 1 and the impact of normalization on aspirants. The experience shared by these candidates offers valuable insights to those preparing for the upcoming CGL 2023 examination. It underlines the importance of both preparation and a strategic approach to the exam to ensure the best possible results.