Grading System

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a new grading system for Class X students from the academic year 2009-10. The idea behind the proposed grading system was to minimise unnecessary pressure and classification among students on the basis of marks.

Exams for Class X and XII students of the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) have commenced yesterday. This year the Class X students will be assessed as per the new grading system of CBSE.

The central board has initiated a new grading system for Class IX and X students from the academic year 2009-10. According to the new system grades will be given on a nine point scale depending upon the performance of the student in each subject.

The acceptance of the grading system as part of the continuous evaluation procedure of students till Class X has encouraged the Ministry of Human Resource Development to contemplate introducing the same for Class XII as well, across all CBSE schools soon.

While the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has finally agreed upon the HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal of introducing grading in Class X examinations, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board seems to be in no such frame of mind.

Not only is the ICSE against the grading system for class X it is also not likely to make the boards optional for the tenth class students, as per the ICSE chairman, Neil O’Brien.

As the new comprehensive and compulsive grading system of CBSE is beginning to shape out doubts regarding some of its evaluation criterion are coming to the fore as well. The board plans to evaluate the attitude of the students towards their peer, school programmes, the environment, as well as the teachers.

With the new graded evaluation system finally being imbibed by schools across the nation from October onwards; the need now is to train teachers in using the system appropriately and effectively. Keeping the same motive in mind a training workshop was held at the Laxman Public School in Hauz Khas, New Delhi. Attended by over 100 CBSE teachers the workshop was a big success.

In what comes as a good piece of news for students of class IX and X, bringing smiles to their faces, it seems that the new grading system is going to be quite a liberal one. For, it has been declared that all schools under CBSE, following the grading system, shall have to provide students failing in any subject with five chances to clear it and move to the next class.

While the new evaluation system initially came as a piece of good news for all students and their parents there are new doubts beginning to sprout as the initial euphoria over the change has died down. Fearing that the changed system would lead to more at home assignments for them the students are beginning to get vary if it.

Yet another sop from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)! This time it is for the benefit of students and parents looking for quality school at a better premium. A few days ago, the Board had declared grading system for Class X students. Now the schools are tipped to be subject to grading. 

While India is still in its teething phase shrouded with doubts and speculations as far as the new grading system is concerned, many developed nations have been practicing this assessment method quite successfully for years now.