What cut-offs really tell you (and what they don’t)

Cut-offs are an output, not a target

A cut-off is set by vacancies, the number of candidates and paper difficulty together. A higher number can simply mean more applicants or an easier paper — not that you need to "score more" in isolation.

Track the trend across years and categories rather than fixating on a single figure. The honest use of a cut-off is to calibrate your mock targets, not to fuel anxiety.