This story is from June 2, 2017

CBSE awarded up to 11 extra marks in Class XII

Up to 11 extra marks were given in accountancy, 10 in mathematics and eight each in physics and chemistry, documents accessed by TOI reveal. This is apart from set-wise moderated marks awarded due to difference in difficulty level and other discrepancies.
CBSE awarded up to 11 extra marks in Class XII
File photo used for representative image
Key Highlights
  • CBSE also gave up to 10 marks as grace for candidates who failed to get qualifying marks
  • Up to 11 extra marks were given in accountancy, 10 in mathematics and eight each in physics and chemistry
NEW DELHI: Ordered by the court to restore moderation of marks in Class XII this year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) seems to have gone way beyond reasonable limits of the policy while awarding marks. Up to 11 extra marks were given in accountancy, 10 in mathematics and eight each in physics and chemistry, documents accessed by TOI reveal.
This is apart from set-wise moderated marks awarded due to difference in difficulty level and other discrepancies.
The spiking of marks, evidently done in anticipation of other boards doing the same, is bound to reopen the moderation debate.
One expert called it “not moderation, but competitive inflation” of marks. Others said such spiking of marks was putting an otherwise progressive policy (moderation) under a cloud, with all education boards getting into competitive mode.
CBSE also gave up to 10 marks as grace for candidates who failed to get qualifying marks.
TOI accessed documents on CBSE’s moderation process this year for the all India sets of question papers for 18 subjects of Class XII. In addition, there are set-specific extra marks given to the same question paper(s). For example, while physics has been awarded eight marks as moderation, for ‘set 2’ and ‘set 3’, an additional one each has been awarded.
Speaking to TOI, former CBSE chairperson Ashok K Ganguly said that such variability in mean marks amongst different sets of question papers should not have arisen in the first place. “These cannot be moderation of marks if the process has been done properly. Earlier, moderation of one to three marks used to be adequate,” he said.

Stating that moderation is a necessity for a national board such as CBSE, Ganguly said it should be done judiciously. “State boards should not be moderating at all,” he added.
CBSE had stated it would not moderate marks this year. However, on May 22, 2017, the Delhi high court overturned the decision. Following the court’s order, CBSE continued with its “moderation policy” and the Class XII results were notified on May 28, 2017.
The board’s grace marks policy (for those candidates failing in a subject) too was ‘liberalised’ this year. As per CBSE documents with TOI, a total of 10 marks were awarded to candidates as grace. According to a former controller of examination, “grace marks used to be three or maximum four till around 2009”.
In the wake of this year’s moderated marks, a former CBSE chairperson has called for reviving the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE), a voluntary association of all the school boards.
“It seems that COBSE has become dysfunctional. Its mandate was to create a level-playing situation. The body should be revived and the human resource development ministry should intervene, along with state education ministers, to ensure that the 2018 board results are different,” he said.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA