When building your preference list, looking at success rank is more reliable than looking at cutoff score. The reason is simple: scores shift year to year with the exam's difficulty, while rank shows a candidate's position relative to everyone else, which keeps it comparable across years.
The Difference Between the Two
| Metric | What it means | Behavior across years |
|---|---|---|
| Cutoff score | The score of the last candidate placed into a program | Drifts year to year with exam difficulty |
| Success rank | The candidate’s rank among all candidates | Relatively stable across years |
In a year when the exam is easy, everyone's score rises, and cutoff scores rise along with it. That doesn't mean the program got "harder" — it's just score inflation. Rank strips that illusion away.
A Concrete Example
Say a program's cutoff score was 420 last year and 445 this year. That number alone tells you nothing. But if the success rank moved from 38,000 to 37,500, the program genuinely got a bit more competitive; if it moved from 38,000 to 42,000, it actually got easier.
Rank change = The program’s real demand
Rank Isn't Perfect Either
Rank is more reliable, but it isn't absolute. Three factors can shift it too:
- Quota changes. If a program's intake quota grows, its cutoff rank loosens (easier to get in); if it shrinks, the rank tightens.
- New programs opening. If a similar program opens in the same city, demand splits between them.
- Shifting trends. In fields where employment prospects change, demand can swing quickly.
That's why it's best to look at the rank trend over the last 3 years, not a single year's data.
How to Build Your Preference List
Once you know your rank, split your list into three zones:
- Ambitious picks (top 3-5 slots): Programs just above your rank. Could come through if the quota grows.
- Realistic picks (the middle block): Programs around your actual rank. This is where the bulk of your list should sit.
- Safe picks (bottom 3-5 slots): Programs clearly below your rank. These guarantee you don't end up unplaced.
The most common mistake is leaving the safe zone empty — listing only the programs you want and ending up unplaced means losing an entire year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking at the success-rank trend over the last 3 years is the most reliable approach. A single year’s data can be misleading due to quota changes or unusual demand spikes.
You can still look at it, just don’t make it your only decision criterion. Cutoff score is useful for comparing programs within the same year; for comparing across years, rank is more accurate.
Building a list close to the maximum the guide allows, balanced across ambitious-realistic-safe zones, is the safest approach. An incomplete list raises your risk of ending up unplaced.
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