In a recruitment process, the selection of candidates is based on their performance in three components. The weightages of the components 1, 2 and 3 are 0·2, 0·3 and 0·5, respectively. Use the data given below and find the cutoff score if exactly three candidates are to be selected : Candidate | Score in component 1 | Score in component 2 | Score in component 3 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 5 | 8 | 8 | 2
- (a) 5·1 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 5·2
- (c) 5·3
- (d) 5·4
Why the answer is (a)
• Weighted score = 0·2 × C1 + 0·3 × C2 + 0·5 × C3.
• Candidate 1: 1·0 + 1·2 + 3·0 = 5·2. Candidate 2: 0·8 + 1·8 + 2·5 = 5·1. Candidate 3: 0·6 + 0·6 + 4·0 = 5·2.
• Candidate 4: 1·8 + 1·2 + 1·5 = 4·5. Candidate 5: 1·6 + 2·4 + 1·0 = 5·0.
• The top three are 5·2, 5·2 and 5·1, so a cutoff of 5·1 selects exactly three: (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 5·2
- A cutoff of 5·2 selects only two candidates.
- (c) 5·3
- A cutoff of 5·3 selects nobody.
- (d) 5·4
- A cutoff of 5·4 selects nobody.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.