Shadow of Class XI over boards irks students in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Students of government and private schools alike are unhappy about Class XI marks being included in the final assessment formula for Class XII, board exams for which were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Their argument is that in Class XI, they are introduced to new subjects and in adjusting to these new studies, their test performances aren’t optimal. Parents too shared the same concern, but most school principals said there couldn’t have been a better method and expressed confidence that this formula wouldn’t put any student at a disadvantage.

Riya Mukherjee, a commerce student at Delhi Public School, said, “It would have been ideal if CBSE had considered either only Class XII tests or given 30% weightage to Class X marks and 70% to Class XII because both these are board exam classes.



I don’t find any rationality in including the Class XI performance, being a year when students change their selection of subjects. When I moved up to Class XI, all subjects barring economics and mathematics were new to me. In that light, it isn’t fair to include Class XI marks.”

Vivek Pandey, a science student at Government Co-ed Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 8, Rohini, had a similar observation. “I scored well in my Class X exams, so I have no problem with that being included for assessment. But the board should understand that in Class XI, students concentrate on other imperatives too, like preparing for entrance exams or engaging in extra-curricular activities.

It is only when we are promoted to Class XII that we begin studying for the board exams.”While it is difficult to come up with a formula that pleases everyone, including Class XI marks is problematic, agreed Divya Bhatia, principal, Amity International, Saket.

“Class XI is when the students take up specific streams and subjects. During the course of Class XI, students often change subjects and streams too,” noted Bhatia. “So, 30% weightage to Class XI is quite high. Ideally, 20% to X and 80% to XII would have been ideal. If at all XI had to be considered, a 20+10+70 for X , XI, XII would have worked better.”

CBSE, however, has held that Class XI exams were conducted in the offline mode without deviation from the scheme and conducted just a year ago and are, therefore, indicative of a student’s current capability. However, only the practicals marks of Class XII will be considered, not of the two earlier classes.

Manoj Sharma, whose daughter is a humanities student, wondered why CBSE is only considering the theory marks. “Why aren’t they taking the overall marks for Class X and XI?” Sharma asked. “Practical tests are undertaken with external examiners, so why not include these marks in the assessment? If the practicals aren’t of much value, then why did they start practicals even for subjects like history and literature? I don’t know what to make of this.”

But Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal, Springdales School, Pusa Road, described the evaluation formula as “balanced”. “The Class X board exams were validated by CBSE and the Class XI exams were completed before the pandemic. The teachers have been moderate and compassionate with the assessment for the various Class XII exams,” said Wattal.

The Indian School principal Tania Joshi too thought the decision was a sound one. She said, “In Class X, 90% of the students do well. For Class XI, it would have been detrimental to take the entire year’s various exams, but in the final exams, 50-60% of the students. A moderation of +/-5 marks has also been provided.”

There are some who felt the weightage of Class XI marks could have been lesser. “There is stringent marking in Class XI in government schools, so this may affect some students,” explained AK Jha, principal of a government school in Rohini. Jyoti Arora, principal, Mt Abu Public School, Rohini, disclosed, “CBSE’s 30:30:40 formula was achieved after rounds of consultations and dialogues with all Sahodayas, or regional groups of CBSE schools.”

There is unanimity, however, on the non-inclusion of practical marks for Class X and XI. Said one principal, “Practical marks are a bit dicey.