Understanding the Ranking System of the TU Delft Entrance Exams

Securing a spot in TU Delft's Aerospace Engineering program is highly competitive. Your ranking score, which determines admission, is calculated using a Z-score system. This method allows TU Delft to fairly compare candidates by accounting for the performance of all applicants.

What is the Z-Score?

The Z-score is a statistical measure that indicates how your performance compares to the average performance of all applicants. It shows how far your score is from the average, expressed in terms of standard deviations.

Mathematically, the formula is:

Z = (Your Score - Average Score) / Standard Deviation

Breaking Down the Formula

• Your Score: The number of correct answers you achieved.
• Average Score: The average number of correct answers across all candidates.
• Standard Deviation: A measure of how much scores vary from the average.

A positive Z-score means you performed above average, while a negative Z-score means your score was below average.

How the Z-Score Affects Your Ranking

TU Delft uses the Z-score system to determine your final ranking score by comparing your performance to that of other applicants. This ensures that ranking is based on standardized scores rather than raw results.

• For the Aerospace Engineering program, your ranking score is based on two components:
  • Academic Aptitude Test (40%)
  • Selection Exam (60%)
  TU Delft calculates separate Z-scores for these two components, then weights and combines them to determine your final ranking score.
• For the Computer Science & Engineering program, 100% of your ranking score is determined by the Cognitive Skills Test (CST). This test evaluates your problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

In both cases, there is no fixed pass or fail grade. Your final score depends entirely on how well you perform compared to other candidates. A strong Z-score in key sections can significantly boost your ranking position, especially if others struggle on the same test.

Example of a Z-Score Calculation

Let’s say you take the Mathematics section of the Selection Exam and score 18 correct answers out of 20. The average score for all candidates is 15, with a standard deviation of 2.

Using the Z-score formula:

Z = (18 - 15) / 2
Z = 3 / 2 = 1.5

This means your score is 1.5 standard deviations above the average, indicating a strong performance in this section.

Similarly, Z-scores are calculated for the other sections of the exam and the aptitude test. These are combined and weighted to determine your overall ranking.

Why the Z-Score Matters

The Z-score system ensures that your final ranking isn’t just based on raw scores. It accounts for the difficulty of the test and the performance of other applicants. This means that scoring well when others struggle can significantly boost your ranking, while a mediocre score when others perform well may hurt your chances.

Key Takeaways

• The Z-score measures how your performance compares to the average applicant's performance.
• Positive Z-scores indicate above-average performance, while negative Z-scores indicate below-average performance.
• Since your ranking is based on comparison, maximizing your score on the Selection Exam is crucial to improving your chances.

By understanding how the Z-score works, you can better appreciate the importance of preparation and strategic performance during the selection process. Good luck with your exam and ranking!