CBSE's New Assessment Method: Insights on the Relative Grading System
In a radical shift, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) decided to swap its absolute marking system for a relative grading one in Classes 10 and 12 board examinations, starting 2024. This move, geared towards matching global academic standards, significantly alters how student performance gets evaluated and reported.
Under this new grading model, student scores get analyzed by comparing them to the entire cohort's performance instead of absolute scales. This method means that marks hold a context based on the group's overall performance, thus potentially relieving the stress of obtaining perfect scores and fostering fairness in grade distribution.
Reasons behind the Change
CBSE officials justified this transition due to concerns about mark inflation, fierce competition, and student stress. In recent times, the problem of exorbitant admission cut-offs for colleges and the stress to score above 95% had garnered criticism from educators and parents alike.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also advocated reforms to eliminate rote learning and foster holistic development—a goal this system strives to achieve.
Functioning of the System
The relative grading system relies on statistical measures such as standard deviation and mean scores. Grades like A1, A2, B1, and so forth get assigned based on the marks distribution across the group. For example, the top 1/8th of the candidates might receive an A1, the next 1/8th an A2, and so forth, depending on subject-wise performance.
Notably, while announcing Class 12 board exam results today, CBSE will publish a merit list for the top 0.1% students who have scored the highest marks in the subjects.
Implications for Students
For students, this system may lessen the stigma attached tomarginally lower marks and discourage unhealthy academic rivalry. Teachers too might benefit from a more holistic approach towards assessment, focusing on conceptual understanding instead of obsessing over maximizing marks.
Has this shift in assessment been causing ripples in the education sector? Learn how it affects student evaluations, competition, and stress levels as we delve deeper into the intricacies of relative grading[1][2][3][4].
[1] Impact on Student Evaluation: With relative grading, students get evaluated based on their performance within their peer group, leading to a more intricate assessment of individual abilities.
[2] Fairness and Adjustments: This system works towards ensuring fairness by adjusting grades based on the number of passing students in each subject, especially for those with fewer than 500 passing students.
[3] Reduced Unhealthy Competition: Relative grading attempts to minimize unhealthy competition by focusing students on their growth rather than rigidly competing for limited high grades.
[4] Shift in Focus: The emphasis on personal growth and improvement allows students to concentrate less on competing for high grades and more on learning and development, potentially offering a more relaxed learning setting.
[Enrichment Data]The relative grading system carried out in CBSE Class 10 and 12 board examinations starting from the 2024-25 academic year is aimed at reducing academic pressure and unhealthy competition among students. Here's what it means for student evaluations, competition, and stress levels:
- Performance Comparison: The relative grading system compares students within their peer group, instead of evaluating them against set mark levels, leading to a more nuanced evaluation of student performance.
- Fairness and Adjustments: The system adjusts grades based on the number of passing students in each subject, ensuring fairness even in subjects with fewer than 500 passing students.
- Reduced Unhealthy Competition: With this system, students focus on their own growth rather than competing against others for specific high grades.
- Shift in Focus: The system encourages students to focus on learning and improvement instead of just achieving high grades, potentially contributing to a more laid-back learning environment.
The decision made by CBSE to employ a relative grading system in Class 10 and 12 board examinations, implemented from 2024, addresses concerns about inflation in grades, intense competition, and student stress. This new method, endorsed by the National Education Policy 2020, aims to foster holistic development by eliminating rote learning, aligning with the objectives of science, education-and-self-development, and general-news.
By evaluating student scores based on their cohort's overall performance rather than absolute scales, the relative grading system promotes fairness in grade distribution, potentially relieving the pressure of perfection and reducing unhealthy academic rivalry.
