The new grading system of the Central Board of Secondary Education left students guessing about the “exact” marks after the board declared the results of Class X examinations today.
For the first time, students were awarded grades, ranging from A1 (91-100), A2 (81-90), B1 (71-80), B2 (61-70), C1 (51-60), C2 (41-50), D (33-40), E1 (21-32) and E2 (20 and below).
But the alphabets confused the students, who complained that the formula held out by the CBSE to convert grades into marks and percentage was only an approximation and not exact.
Many students, along with their parents, reached the office of the Guwahati region of the CBSE at Hatigaon this morning to enquire about the exact marks they had secured in the examination.
Pranjal Saikia, an official of CBSE (Guwahati region) said there was a huge rush of students and parents seeking clarifications about the new system.
“The grades have equivalent points, which start from 10 for A1 to 4 for D. As the exact marks will not be revealed by the CBSE, these points can be multiplied by 9.5 to get the average marks/percentage represented by the grades. Thus, A1 will be equal to 95, A2 — 85.5, B1 — 76, B2 — 66.5, C1 — 57, C2 — 47.5 and D will be equal to 38 average marks,” Saikia explained.
Arup Sarma, whose daughter appeared in the examination from a leading school in the city, said he was not happy with the new system introduced by the CBSE.
“My daughter is very good in mathematics and was confident of scoring a 100. But she has been given 10 points, which, according to the new system, would peg the score at 95. I will file an application to the CBSE to know the exact marks that my daughter has secured for my own mental satisfaction. Students who have taken their examinations wish to know their exact marks, too. I strongly feel that the new system has denied them their right to know their individual performance based on marks and percentage,” Sarma said.
Most of the schools will distribute the marksheets — showing grades and points only — tomorrow.
For the third consecutive year, boys in the Northeast fared better than girls in the Class X CBSE examination this year.
Saikia said the overall pass percentage in the Guwahati region, which comprises all the northeastern states including Sikkim, this year was 63.93 — a rise from the last year’s figure of 60.43.
Boys registered a pass percentage of 65.59 compared to 61.93 per cent among girls.
The Kendriya Vidyalayas have registered a pass percentage of 97.50 per cent, the highest, followed by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya with 95.85.
The independent or private schools in the region recorded a pass percentage of 87.67.
The government schools under the board, which include a few schools in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, however, recorded a pass percentage of only 40.88.
Saikia said candidates who are not happy with their grades can apply for verification at their respective regional offices within 21 days from declaration of results.
The Telegraph
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