A decision is correct when:

Right/Wrong selection decisions matter a lot to the organisations.

Consider, for a moment that any selection decision can result in 4 possible outcomes. A decision is correct when an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be successful on the job, or when the applicant was predicted to be unsuccessful and would perform accordingly if hired. In the first case, we have successfully accepted; in the second case we have successfully rejected. Problems arise when errors are made in rejecting candidates who would have performed successfully on the job (reject errors) or accepting those who ultimately perform poorly (accept errors). Don’t you think, these problems can be significant and can result in costly mistakes?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → When an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be successful on the job

Option (1) When an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be unsuccessful on the job — Incorrect. The prediction was wrong. The firm hired a poor performer, which is an accept error.
Option (2) When the applicant was predicted to be unsuccessful and proved to be successful on the job when hired — Incorrect. Here too the prediction was wrong. A good candidate was judged poor, which is a reject error.
Option (3) When an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be successful on the job — Correct. A decision is correct when the prediction comes true. The passage gives two such cases: a candidate predicted to succeed who does succeed, and one predicted to fail who would fail if hired. This option is the first case.
Option (4) When we accept those who ultimately perform poorly — Incorrect. This is the accept error itself, not a correct decision.

Note: The passage is the NCERT box ‘Right/ Wrong Selection Decisions Matter a lot to the Organisations!’ from the chapter Staffing, which has been reproduced by NTA in the exam.

NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Right/ Wrong Selection Decisions Matter a lot to the Organisations! Consider, for a moment that any selection decision can result in 4 possible outcomes. A decision is correct when an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be successful on the job, or when the applicant was predicted to be unsuccessful and would perform accordingly if hired. In the first case, we have successfully accepted; in the second case we have successfully rejected. Problems arise when errors are made in rejecting candidates who would have performed successfully on the job (reject errors) or accepting those who ultimately perform poorly (accept errors). …”

Right/Wrong selection decisions matter a lot to the organisations.

A decision is correct when:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → When an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be successful on the job

Option (1) When an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be unsuccessful on the job — Incorrect. The prediction was wrong. The firm hired a poor performer, which is an accept error.
Option (2) When the applicant was predicted to be unsuccessful and proved to be successful on the job when hired — Incorrect. Here too the prediction was wrong. A good candidate was judged poor, which is a reject error.
Option (3) When an applicant was predicted to be successful and proved to be successful on the job — Correct. A decision is correct when the prediction comes true. The passage gives two such cases: a candidate predicted to succeed who does succeed, and one predicted to fail who would fail if hired. This option is the first case.
Option (4) When we accept those who ultimately perform poorly — Incorrect. This is the accept error itself, not a correct decision.

Note: The passage is the NCERT box ‘Right/ Wrong Selection Decisions Matter a lot to the Organisations!’ from the chapter Staffing, which has been reproduced by NTA in the exam.