As the time for the announcement of results for state and central board exams for classes 10 and 12 approaches, discussions regarding the exams are gaining momentum. During this crucial time of result anticipation, let’s delve into some important information related to it.
Various state boards in India, as well as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), require students to score a minimum of 33% marks to pass in classes 10 and 12. However, have you ever wondered why students need to score exactly 33% marks to pass the exam? Why not more or less? Today, we’ll explore the reasons behind this requirement.
Where 33% Passing Marks Apply?
To understand this better, let’s summarize. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and under the CBSE, students need to score at least 33% marks to pass in classes 10 and 12. However, the scenario is slightly different in the Kerala board, where the passing percentage is lower, with students required to score a minimum of 30% marks to pass the exam. Additionally, apart from all states in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh also follow the minimum passing percentage of 33%.
Understanding the Reason Behind
The system of requiring students to obtain a minimum of 33% marks to pass in exams traces back to 1858 when the British Empire was in power. It was during this time that the first matriculation examination was conducted in India, where a minimum of 65% marks was required to pass. However, British officials later modified the minimum passing marks for Indian students to 33%, indicating their belief that the educational standard of Indian students was relatively lower compared to British students. In this context, even today, we continue to adhere to the requirement of scoring 33% marks to pass, reflecting the influence of the British education system.
Understanding the Global Context
In other countries, grading systems use various percentage scales. For instance, in Germany, the GPA system ranges from 1 to 6 or 5 points, where scores between 1 or 1.5% are considered “very good,” while scores between 4.1 to 5% are considered “not sufficient.” In China, schools and colleges use a 5 or 4 scale grading system, where grades are assigned based on percentage scores. In this system, students scoring between 0 to 59% are given an F grade, while in a four-tier system, a D grade implies that the students have not passed.
Understanding the historical context and the influence of the British education system helps us comprehend why 33% marks are considered the minimum requirement for passing exams in India and certain other countries.