As CBSE scores soar, HSC kids worry about ‘grade inflation’

MUMBAI: More students have scored 90% and above in this year’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) results for Class 12 compared to 2017. While CBSE students are rejoicing, those waiting for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam results are worried about the impact of CBSE results on college admissions.

The Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is yet to announce a date for the announcement of HSC results.

“For the past few years, the first two admission lists at top city colleges are usually filled with CBSE and ICSE students not only from Mumbai, but also from other cities and states. If our results don’t match up with the other boards, then we will miss out on seats in colleges and courses of our choice,” said Arunima Banerjee, an HSC student. There have been concerns about ‘grade inflation’, or the practice of giving more marks, which raises the students’ average and can lead to an inequality if all boards don’t do the same.

Over the years, the CBSE has been providing grace marks and has seen an overall increase in average percentages in Class 12 results. When HT analysed Class 12 CBSE results from 2004 to 2017, it found that the percentage of students scoring more than 80% has been increasing consistently. The data suggested that 88% in 2015 was effectively equivalent to scoring 78% in 2005.

Last year, 53,156 (4.9%) students had scored above 90% and just over 10,000 students had scored between 95-100% in the CBSE’S Class 12 exams. This year, the number of students who have scored 90% and above has reached 72,599 (7.9%). Out of them 12,737 students have scored above 95%.

In addition to this, the number of students on the Indian School Certificate merit list has also risen to 49 from 10 last year, six of whom are from Mumbai and Thane. All these students secured 99% or higher.

“The first two merit lists will be out of reach for Class 12 state board students if the HSC results do not match with Class 12 CBSE and ISC results,” said principal Ashok Wadia of Jai Hind College.

However, not all college principals see cause for concern. “Even if the central and international boards have more students who have scored 90% and beyond, they constitute a very small number as compared to HSC students. No one should be worried as there are ample seats in colleges and state board students will not lose out in the race to the top seats,” said Hemlata Bagla, principal of Kishinchand Chelaram College.

If our results don’t match up with the other boards, then we will miss out on seats in colleges and courses of our choice. ARUNIMA BANERJEE, HSC candidate