CBSE class 12th results were declared on 13th July 2020 and class 10th results will also be declared soon. A moment that is awaited and feared by many. While during normal times, this would have been the moment when all the students go to their school to meet their teachers, getting photographed by photojournalists, sharing happiness with all the people around them. Some also sharing their grieves of not doing as expected. This time it was different. Due to the pandemic, the remaining exams were postponed many times before getting canceled for good. All the post-exam plans were ruined too. The result was calculated very differently as for the exams which were canceled.
A unique marking scheme was adopted this year because of the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the lockdown. Exams in 12 subjects could not be held, presenting CBSE with the challenge of declaring results. It was finally decided to take the average of the
best three scores from the papers that a student could appear for and award that to each of the other papers. In case a student could appear for only three papers, then the average of the best two scores was taken for this purpose.
As is evident from this marking scheme, those who scored well in the papers that they had appeared for were at a distinct advantage. Those who did poorly also got marked accordingly in the other papers with the possibility that had they appeared for these papers; they could have scored better. This was the reason why the board did not bring out a list of toppers this year.
The board has announced that for the papers for which examinations could not be held in July, it will hold optional examinations. In a statement, the board said that as soon as conditions are conducive, as assessed and decided by the central government, the exams will be held. “The candidates whose results have been declared based on the assessment scheme will be allowed to appear in these optional examinations to improve their performance if they wish to,” said the statement.
This year 87,651 students have got a compartment for having failed in more than two subjects but the terms “fail” and “compartmental” have been replaced with “essential repeat”. The words “fail” and “compartmental” will not be mentioned anywhere. The board will be announcing the schedule for compartment examinations. While some students couldn’t do well in exams and are now worrying about getting admissions in good colleges, it is important to concentrate on your mental health first.
Yes, exams are a part of life but life is the most important thing to you. Try to focus on your present, try to be happy in the present because the past cannot be changed and the future cannot be decided now. Life is full of second chances. Didn’t score well? You still have an optional examination to improve your scores.
A lot of you will also be struggling with the thought of changing your stream completely, for example, from having Science in your high school to planning to do a bachelor’s in some language and that is completely fine. That’s why we are given choices in life. We find our interests as we gain experience. It’s ok to do what you love for the rest of your life instead of doing something that doesn’t make you happy. Don’t worry about what people say about changing streams.
Want to take a one-year break and find what you actually love? Do it! No one’s going to judge you for choosing the life you’ll be living.
Also, a lot of changes will happen now as you take another major step in your life. School- life is over.
All my friends will choose different paths. Some will drift away while some will stay with you for the rest of your life. But again, that’s the part of life. The college will start. New people, different types of teaching, parents won’t bug you to study like they did when you were in school, strict deadlines for submitting those assignments and whatnot. You’ll make a dozen new friends; some will stay while some will drift apart. the first day will come with a lot of nervousness and excitement, wearing the best of the outfit for the first day, waiting for the freshers’ party, the first college festival that’ll be a whole different experience, being able to smile while having the tightest of the deadlines, having tea at the tapri outside your college with your friends, reaching late for the first lecture even if it starts at 12 pm will become a routine, etc. Life will be new.
Life will have a new set of ups and downs but you’ll get through them. Just do what feels right to you. The pressure will increase too. Life will not be that exciting Snapchat story 24/7, some days will be tough for you, but you’ll manage it all. Just believe in yourself and your dreams. Enjoy these days as much as you can because let’s be real,
we all need the best of the memories to remember and smile when we are old and in those rocking chairs seeing our grandchildren going through their college lives.
Lipakshi Seedhar (Staff Correspondent), Feature Writer: