Record 100-out-of-100 scores
It is common knowledge that Mathematics is a scoring subject, but never have 658 students scored 100 in the subject in previous years. The figure was 212 in 2006. Similarly, 217 students have scored cent percent marks in Social Science this year, against last year’s 126. Both Math and Social Science have been traditional problem areas for students in Class X.
The national figure in Mathematics is equally impressive, with 5,251 students scoring perfect marks as compared to 1,167 last year. Similarly, Social Science scorers have also risen from 807 last year to 1,232 in 2007.
Anirudh Batra of Springdales (Pusa Road) scored 100 in both Math and Social Science. Batra says he was surprised with his marks, though he did expect to do well. “The papers were completely based on the NCERT textbook and CBSE sample papers,” he said.
CBSE chairman Ashok Ganguly credits the reforms set off by the Board not just for the improvement in subjects like Math and Social Science, but also the overall pass percentage. The Board had set aside 20 per cent marks in Math for internal assessment this year. The 20-per-cent internal assessment was initiated for Social Science last year, and the result shows.
“The overall performance in Math and Social Science has improved a lot. Reforms like the 15-minute cool-off time, student-friendly answer sheets and internal assessment have resulted in an improved pass percentage and a fall in the number of compartment cases. We had also restructured our question papers for Math, Science and Social Science this year to have a good relation between speed and accuracy,” says Ganguly.
“The paper was designed so that even an average student could answer it in two-and-a-half hour. They can revise the paper in the remaining 30 minutes. Only very poor students would have a problem finishing the paper,” he adds.
The move has also helped even those who are at the bottom of the scale. Compartment cases in Delhi are down by a whopping 19.76 per cent. “All our measures are actually aimed at those at the bottom of the pile, not those who are already doing well,” says M.C. Sharma, CBSE exam controller.
