Grades give stress to CBSE students

This year, students who appeared for the Std X exam conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will be the first batch to get their results in grades instead of percentage.

With the result to be announced by 10am on Friday, students admit to feeling stressed despite the board’s progressive move.

According to Manish R, a Std X student from Powai, getting results in grades does not make any difference as he still needs to have a good score to get admission to junior college. “I need to get above 85% as anything less will not get me entry into a reputed college,” he said, adding, “Until the junior college admission is based on marks, grading system won’t really reduce stress for students.”
Students are wondering how they will ascertain their exact scores. However, the board will provide aggregate marks and percentages on special request to students for the first few years, say school principals.

“We are expecting to get requests from students for marks as it will take time for them to adjust to the grading system,” said Avanita Bir, principal of RN Podar High School, Santa Cruz. “Students will need their scores to get admission in junior college.”

According to Bir, students will not get scores of individual subjects. “Only total marks will be given,” she said.

Approximately 15,000 students attempted the exam across the state from 202 schools in March this year. Last year, the state had secured a pass percentage of 97.73% in the All India Secondary School Examination (Std X). This year, with the board stressing on grades, no topper will be announced, said to N Nagaraju, joint secretary, Chennai region, CBSE.

Students will be able to access their results on the board’s website, www.results.nic.in, www.cbse.nic.in or www.cbseresults.nic.in. They can also receive it through text message on their mobile phones.