CBSE marksheet to tell if student was given grace marks

: The Central Board of Secondary Education, the country’s biggest school board, has decided that extra marks given to Class 12 students to help clear a paper will be mentioned on marksheets.

Known as “grace marks”, these are given in cases where a student’s score narrowly misses the passing-mark. The decision was part of proposals discussed by top officials of the education ministry and counterparts in the state. They included a move to do away with moderation — the practice of revising marks upwards — which could result in lower cut-offs in university entrances, such as the Delhi University.

States have also agreed to do away with the policy of moderation, and several of them may follow CBSE in declaring the grace marks as well. HT had first reported about states planning to do away with moderation on April 12.

“CBSE has decided it will not spike marks at all. This will be implemented for this year’s board exam itself. It will award grace marks which will also be reflected in the mark sheet and the website will also clearly mention the mechanism used to give grace marks and to what extent,” said a senior official.

Officials said as CBSE has decided to lead by example it will put pressure on other boards to follow.

“Some states are already doing it. This will bring greater transparency and it will provide a level playing field,” the official said.

“This could lead to slight dip in cut-off but it is difficult to quantify. Also, CBSE is not the only Board as we have many students from state Boards who apply to DU,” said a Delhi University official who did not want to be named.

Few states expressed apprehension over mark-sheets reflecting the grace marks, saying it could be seen as a stigma.