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 |

To find the cutoff score, we must first calculate the weighted average score for each candidate using the given weightages for components 1, 2, and 3 (0.2, 0.3, and 0.5, respectively).

The formula for a candidate's final score is: Final Score = (Component 1 × 0.2) + (Component 2 × 0.3) + (Component 3 × 0.5)

Calculating the final score for each candidate yields the following results:

• Candidate 1: (5 × 0.2) + (4 × 0.3) + (6 × 0.5) = 1.0 + 1.2 + 3.0 = 5.2
• Candidate 2: (4 × 0.2) + (6 × 0.3) + (5 × 0.5) = 0.8 + 1.8 + 2.5 = 5.1
• Candidate 3: (3 × 0.2) + (2 × 0.3) + (8 × 0.5) = 0.6 + 0.6 + 4.0 = 5.2
• Candidate 4: (9 × 0.2) + (4 × 0.3) + (3 × 0.5) = 1.8 + 1.2 + 1.5 = 4.5
• Candidate 5: (8 × 0.2) + (8 × 0.3) + (2 × 0.5) = 1.6 + 2.4 + 1.0 = 5.0

Arranging the scores in descending order, we get: 5.2 (Candidate 1), 5.2 (Candidate 3), 5.1 (Candidate 2), 5.0 (Candidate 5), and 4.5 (Candidate 4). Since exactly three candidates are to be selected, the top three scorers (Candidates 1, 3, and 2) will be chosen. The cutoff score is mathematically defined as the minimum score required to be among the selected candidates. Here, the lowest score among the top three is 5.1. Therefore, Option A is correct.

• Option B (5.2) is incorrect because setting the cutoff at 5.2 would only qualify two candidates (1 and 3) instead of the exactly three required.
• Option C (5.3) is incorrect because this score is mathematically higher than the maximum score achieved by any candidate (5.2), meaning no one would be selected.
• Option D (5.4) is similarly incorrect; it is an arbitrary distractor value that exceeds the highest achieved score.

Takeaway: In competitive selection processes, calculating a 'cutoff' score to select N candidates requires computing the precise weighted averages, ranking them in descending order, and identifying the N-th highest score on the merit list.