Grading System in India: CBSE, UGC & Indian Universities Academic Grading

Grading System in India: The grading system in India is widely followed across CBSE schools, UGC-recognized institutes, and Indian universities, providing a standardized way to evaluate students’ academic performance. Globally, grading systems are recognized as one of the most effective tools for assessing learning outcomes. Introduced in 2009, the grading system replaced the traditional percentage-based evaluation under the updated education policy. Designed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), it ensures fair assessment and minimizes disparities in the education system. The scale of the university is considered while assigning grades, which allows students of similar capabilities to be evaluated fairly, rather than being separated by minor differences in marks.

By adopting the grading system, the scale of university evaluations now focuses on the holistic development of students, ensuring consistent standards across public and private institutions. In this article, we explore the grading system in India and its role in shaping students’ academic journeys on a national level.

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What is the Grading System in India?

A grading system or GPA (grade points average), or SGPA or CGPA, is nothing but a conversion of marks in a point-based framework that aids educators in comprehending and evaluating a student's performance in school. Grading points are usually done on a scale of 10 where students are categorised as per marks obtained in the examination. Grading systems can be cumulative or relative, depending on the strength of the students. It is widely accepted by the majority of educational institutions. It serves as a reliable method to assess a student’s abilities and intellectual acumen. Grading systems respect the intellectual ability of students more as compared to traditional percentage systems as students are judged on the basis of their overall performance and not just a percentage that can vary by one mark also.
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Department of Education under the Indian Government has introduced a modern grading system as part of the K-12 Basic Educational Program. All educational institutions, ranging from Kindergarten to high school, are instructed to follow these guidelines established by the Department of Education. Additionally, private schools are encouraged to implement the grading system. The grading system is beneficial in a larger context as it brings healthy competition among students. Parents are also a little less judgmental after the incorporation of a grading system, as the graded marks always look better when compared to a direct percentage basis, as the latter may spoil the relationship with friends because of marks.

Components of the Grading System in India

The grading system in India follows three fundamental components that play a significant role in determining the grades of the students and monitoring their progress. The different components of grading systems are used to calculate the grade by assigning a fixed percentage to each component. The three key components – End Semester Examination, Practical Tasks (PT), and Continuous Assessments (CA):

• End Semester Examination: Evaluates students' ability to articulate their skills and knowledge through written examinations that are conducted towards the end of every semester.

• Practical Tasks (PT): Encourages learners to apply their understanding in varied contexts.

• Continuous Assessment (CA): One must be careful towards the continuous assessment that are conducted periodically and it depends and varies from institution to institution. A majority percentage of grading points are also dependent on continuous assessment.

Purpose of a Grading System

The grading system in India was introduced to align with international standards and reduce the burden on students. One must note that the grading system focuses on student’s learning of the concepts and its application as compared to the traditional percentage-based system which mainly talks about the numbers and judges students accordingly.

• Minimum Examination Pressure: One of the major reasons behind implementing the grading system was to reduce examination-related stress on students. In the grading system, students are evaluated not only on academic performance but also considers factors such as internal assignments, classroom projects, and their ability to solve problems.

• Strengths and Weaknesses Analysis: The Grading system shortlists students into different scales, providing insight into their strengths and weaknesses. This facilitates targeted support for average and below-average students, while also enabling students to identify and improve upon their weaknesses.

• Parental Engagement: As far as parental engagement is concerned, the grading system allows parents to assess the ability of the student and monitor areas for improvement.

• Uniformity Across Institutions: The best part of the grading system in India is that it ensures consistency in assessment standards across schools and colleges, both within India and internationally.

• Abolition of Marks-based Classification: Unlike the traditional percentage system, the grading system in India does not only rely on marks for classifying students, promoting a more holistic approach to assessment.

Understanding the Grading Scale in India

To comprehend the grading system in India fully, it's imperative to familiarize oneself with the standards of GPA and CGPA. Gaining insight into the nuances of GPA and CGPA is crucial for navigating the educational terrain and establishing a robust groundwork for future achievements.

What is GPA?

GPA or Grade Point Average denoted the average grading that the students have obtained over a period of time. GPA is usually measured for a semester or a year. It is calculated simply by dividing the total points earned by a student by the total credit of the subjects for a semester or a term.

Converting Percentage to GPA

To calculate your GPA, simply divide your percentage by 100 and then multiply the result by 4. For example, if you have a percentage of 70%, your GPA would be calculated as follows:

Here's a comprehensive table to assist you in calculating your GPA, converting GPA to percentage, and vice versa:

Additionally, several helpful websites are available to assist you in easily calculating and converting your GPA scores.

What is CGPA?

CGPA or Cumulative Grade Point Average indicates the grade obtained by the students over a period of last year. CGPA is nothing but the average of two SGPA or marks of two different semesters obtained by the students. Initially, the mean GPA of individual semesters is calculated, followed by division by the total number of credits. Both GPA and CGPA follow a similar pattern for the calculation and conversion of marks into point systems.

Types of Indian Grading Scales

In India, schools, colleges, and universities predominantly employ their academic grading systems, with some utilizing either percentage or 10-point grading scales to calculate CGPA and GPA. For institutions employing the percentage system, marks obtained within a specific timeframe are typically converted into percentages. These percentages are then categorized into the following four divisions of ranks:

In addition to the aforementioned information, the comparison between the CGPA and GPA scales, corresponding to the grading systems in India, is presented in the following table:

CBSE Grading System

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in India introduced a new grading system for students from classes X to XI in 2010. This 9-point grading scale evaluates students based on both formative and summative assessments, aligning grades with specific ranges of marks.

CBSE Grading System for Class 10 in 2024

The CBSE has introduced a revised grading system for Class 10 students, employing a simplified five-point scale from A to E. This alteration aims to eliminate the practice of displaying numerical scores on students' report cards, promoting a more holistic assessment approach. Below is the earlier nine-point grading system utilized to evaluate students' educational accomplishments:

CBSE Grading System for Class 12 in 2024

The CBSE introduced a new grading system for Class 12, utilizing alphabetical grades ranging from A to E. Developed under the stringent guidelines of the Central Board of Secondary Education, this academic grading system offers a comprehensive evaluation method for board exams. Below is the nine-point grading system used to assess scholastic achievements:

Grading Systems in Indian Universities

Universities play a significant role in advancing higher education across India. Universities often employ distinct grading scales compared to schools or colleges. While the standard is typically a 10-point CGPA scale, variations such as the 4-point and even 4-point CGPA scales are not uncommon. However, the grading systems employed by Indian universities can vary from state to state, with both private and public institutions adopting distinct evaluation methods. Below is the commonly practiced grading scale utilized by universities across India.

UGC Grading Scale

The University Grants Commission (UGC) recommends a standardized 10-point grading system for all Indian colleges. This system utilizes letter grades ranging from O (Outstanding) to F (Fail), each corresponding to a specific grade point. The primary aim is to ensure consistency in grading methodologies across colleges, facilitating the calculation of student's Grade Point Average (GPA). Despite minor variations in its application, this approach has streamlined the process of comparing and interpreting academic results in India.

In conclusion, through this article, collegedekho aimed at understanding what is the grading system in India. Also, standardized frameworks like GPA and CGPA and their implementation in the educational institutions, were also discussed. The grading system lowered the burden of students once the traditional percentage system was removed gradually. By adopting these advancements, India's education sector continues to evolve, ensuring students are better equipped for future challenges and opportunities.

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