MUMBAI: Students whose Secondary School Certificate (SSC) results were beyond their expectations say they may stay out of the Common Entrance Test (CET) race.
The optional CET, which is likely to be held on August 21, will override SSC marks for the first round of junior college admissions. The first round is key for students who look to get admission in top-notch colleges and for specific subjects.
The results announced on Friday saw a near 100% success rate. The results were based on an assessment methodology after exams were cancelled due to the second pandemic wave.
Of the 1,394 schools in the Mumbai division, 1,354 got 100% marks. Across the state, too, over 98% schools got 100% success. With the state passing all registered students, schools had the task of pushing up scores to get them to at least a pass class (35% and above). Students who would have otherwise failed obtained scores as high as 50-60%. In the Mumbai division, 21% of students scored 45% to 60% followed by another 16% who got between 60% to 65 %.
“Many of these students would not have expected a score beyond 50%. We had pushed over 50 students from Class IX to X last year despite poor performance. And this year, they were given scores to help pass the board exam,” said a principal.
Vivek Parcha of People’s Education Society School was elated with 55.2%. He expected less than 50%. Parcha said he does not want to take the CET as he is happy with the SSC results.
A student from a Tardeo school who secured 74% had expected around 60%. “I was preparing for the CET but now with my SSC scores I will wait for round two of admission,” said the student. At Utkarsh Night High School, Worli, a student who scored 73% said he will seek admission based on his SSC results.
The CET, say educationists, may become a battleground of top scorers.
In the Mumbai division, 15,540 students secured 91% and above. Another 21,992 students got 85-90%. “There will be many top scorers in other boards too. It will be these students who will compete in the exam,” said a junior college professor.
Animesh Shinde, who got 99.8%, is ready to take on the CET battle. With a 100% score in mathematics and social sciences—two of the four subjects for CET—Shinde, a student of Vasant Vihar School, Thane, is confident of scoring well in CET too.
Last year, in the Mumbai division, 30% Class XI seats were vacant and admissions extended to March this year.
