CBSE students to get five shots at improving grades

CBSE students to get five shots at improving grades
Karthika Gopalakrishnan , TNN 1 October 2009, 06:11am ISTPrint Email Discuss Bookmark/Share Save Comment Text Size: |

CHENNAI: Students of Class X, who will appear for the board exams in March, 2010, will have an opportunity to

amend their score five times
over in case they perform poorly.

In a circular dated September 29, 2009, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has stated that the practice of declaring Compartment/Fail' would be discontinued. Candidates, who had obtained grades E1 or E2, could improve their performance through five subsequent attempts. "For example, a candidate who appears in the board examination in March 2010 can appear in July 2010, March 2011, July 2011, March 2012 and July 2012 only in subjects in which he/she has got grade E1 or E1 till he/she gets qualifying grades (D and above) in all the subjects, excluding additional subject as per Scheme of Studies and becomes eligible for award of Qualifying Certificate," the circular stated.

It went on to add that a subject-wise percentile score or rank at the national level would be provided to schools on demand. Though students' performance would be assessed using the conventional method of numerical marking, only subject-wise grades would be shown in the Statement of Subject-wise perfomance' to be issued to all candidates.

The circular made the observation -- as did school teachers in the city -- that the CBSE had been preparing to introduce the grading system over the years by implementing it in a phased manner up to Class VIII. The introduction of the system in Classes IX and X would have several advantages, such as eliminating unhealthy competition among high achievers, minimising improper classification of sudents based on marks, and reducing societal pressure to provide the learner with more flexibility and focus on a better learning environment.

Many parents welcomed the move. Ratna Ganesan, whose son studies in Class VIII, said it would ease the pressure off students. "I think the grading system is fine because children can suffer a complex if their scores fall by one mark or half a mark. I don't think there is much difference between 91% and 92%. If a student scores above 90%, that itself is a good score, I feel."

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA BALLIA