When the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the big shift from a marks-based assessment to a grade-based one last year in its 10,000-plus affiliated schools, doubts were raised about its feasibility. Two months after the first grade-based results came out, the board has been vindicated.<\/p>\n
Not only have the number of distress calls on its helpline come down several times, no suicide case has been reported to the CBSE after this year\u2019s Class X results, while the re-evaluation applications coming to it after the board examinations are down more than three times from nearly 50,000 every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CBSE got around 14,000 applications for re-evaluation of Class X answer-sheets this year and that is a very positive indicator. With the shift to grades, students have been spared needless and stressful competitive pressures. Student feedback has been very positive on grades and that reflects in the requests for re-evaluation, which have come down remarkably. Parents too are not pressuring the students as much now,\u201d sources said.<\/p>\n
CBSE helplines and student counsellors have also seen fewer callers this time, especially related to exam stress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the grade system, those in the highest grades may have scored anywhere between 100 per cent and 81 per cent, leaving a wider margin and as a result a larger number of students are happy with their performance instead of the three toppers or so,\u201d said a source.<\/p>\n
The fact that those who scored less than 32 and got Grade E were given a chance to appear for improvement exams to better their grades has also been a major factor.<\/p>\n
A nine-point grading system, spread across A1 to E2 (100-20 marks), replaced the prevalent marking system in the 2010 Class X board examination.<\/p>\n
Source : Indian Express<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"