# Fair results when one exam runs in several shifts

> When a large exam runs in several shifts, SparkExam ranks candidates by percentile within their shift, so a harder shift doesn't cost anyone a place.

SparkExam · Feature

Large exams often run in shifts, and no two shifts are exactly as hard. SparkExam puts results on a common footing: with one shift it uses raw marks, and with several it uses each candidate's percentile within their own shift.

- Page: https://sparkmentis.ai/features/multi-shift-exam-results

## How it works

- **One shift.** Raw marks, as they are.
- **Several shifts.** Each candidate's percentile is worked out within their shift, so results compare like with like.
- **Your rules.** How results are worked out is set in the exam body's settings, and the same rules apply to everyone.

## Why percentiles within a shift

If one shift's paper is harder, raw marks punish the people who happened to sit it. A percentile asks a fairer question: how did this candidate do compared with everyone who sat the same paper?

It's the same idea large entrance exams use. SparkExam does it for you, from the marks it already holds.

## Questions

**Is normalisation always on?**

Only when a paper runs in more than one shift. A single shift keeps raw marks.

**Can candidates see their raw marks too?**

You decide what's released. The rules live in your exam body's settings.

**Does it change marks?**

No. Marks stay as they were given; the percentile is worked out from them for ranking.

## Related

- [SparkExam](https://sparkmentis.ai/products/sparkexam.md): Exam administration
- [Results and transcripts](https://sparkmentis.ai/features/exam-results-transcripts.md)
- [What is marks normalisation?](https://sparkmentis.ai/learn/marks-normalisation.md): Glossary
- [SparK-12: Results and insights](https://app.sparkmentis.ai/features/results-insights): Who's slipping, before it's a report card

## Book a demo

Email info@sparkmentis.ai (subject "SparkMentis demo request") with your organization, your role and the products you're interested in.