Absolute vs. Relative Cut-Score

An essential part of designing a Substantive Knowledge Test is determining the minimum passing score, known as the cut-score.
Absolute and relative cut-scores can be set, but in either case, it must be anonymous. This means that the cut-score is established WITHOUT allowing the scores of individual candidates to influence the decision.

Absolute cut-score

The test creator sets a minimum score needed to pass the test. This initial cut-score is based on a pass mark set for the specific test, 50 out of a 100 for example.

Note: When using an Absolute cut-score, the percentage of candidates who pass varies depending on the score distribution.

Relative cut-score

If needed, when too many or too few candidates pass the test, a second step may be used by setting a relative cut-score.

The method uses the percentage of candidates passing the test to establish the relative cut-score.

For example, if 400 candidates complete the test and 350 of them achieve the cut-score or better, you might then invoke a relative cut-score. If you want no more than 200 candidates to move on in the process, you would set a relative cut-score of 50%. This means only the candidates with the top 200 scores would move forward in the process.

Note: When setting a relative cut-score, the decision must be made anonymously, without knowledge of how individual applicants scored.

)footnote¹