Make way for grades

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The CBSE Class X examination will not be the same again as grading system makes its debut this month. Class X students can heave a sigh of relief. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to discontinue its practice of classifying candidates in the compartmental or fail categories from this year.

Earlier, candidates who scored below 33 in any one of the five main subjects failed in that subject and were placed under compartmental. They could make a second attempt the same year. Students who failed in two or more subjects of the five main subjects had to sit out a year before a second attempt. The CBSE, in consultation with the human resource development ministry, has decided to introduce the nine- point grading system at the secondary level for 2009- 10.

Under the system, students scoring between 91 and 100 would be graded A with a grade point of 10. Those scoring between 81 and 90 would be graded A2 with a grade point of 9. Subsequently, 71 to 80 marks would fetch B1 with a grade point of 8 and so on. Students scoring between 33 and 40 would be graded D with a grade point of 4. Scores between 21- 32 and 20 and below would be graded E1 and E2, respectively.

All candidates who obtain the qualifying grades (33 marks and above) in all the main subjects shall be awarded a qualifying certificate. Those who are graded E1 or E2 will not be promoted, but can attempt to improve their performance five times.

Thus, a candidate who appeared for the March 2010 board exam can appear again in July 2010. The next attempt can be in March 2011 and July 2011, if necessary. In case another attempt is necessary, the candidate can take the exam in March 2012 or July 2012 only in the subjects in which he/ she was graded E1 and E2 till he/ she gets qualifying grades ( D and above).

''The nine-point grading system would take away the judgmental quality of marks obtained in a test, leading to stress- free learning. It will also eliminate unhealthy competition among high achievers and will minimise mis-classification of students on the basis of marks,'' Vineet Joshi, the CBSE chairman, said.

There will be no Class X board exams from 2011 for students who do not wish to move out of the system. Students who wish to migrate to a new board after Class X will have to take the board's external (pen and paper/online) examination. The Class X board exams will be held between March 3 and March 31.

Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. MTNPL. All rights reserved.

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Sana Aijaz (source: Yahoo)