CBSE Class 12 Pass Score Drops 3.19% To 85.2%

Nagpur: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recorded a drop of 3.19% in the Class 12 exams this year, with 85.20% of students clearing it as compared to 88.39% last year. Of the 17,80,365 students registered, 17,68,968 appeared and 15,07,109 passed this year. The dip was accompanied by a sharp rise in the compartment category. Of the total students who appeared for the exams, 1,63,800 (9.26%) were placed in compartment, up from 1,29,095 (7.63%) last year. The rise of 34,705 students in the compartment category in a single year was among the more telling indicators of the wider slip in performance.The decline cut across genders. Girls recorded 88.86% against 91.64% last year, a fall of 2.78%. Boys recorded 82.13% against 85.70% last year, a fall of 3.57%. Boys absorbed a steeper decline, and the gender gap widened from 5.94% last year to 6.73% this year.The state-wise data showed unevenness. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, two of the most populous states and among the largest contributors of CBSE students, recorded 74.45% and 77.22% results, respectively. At the other end, Goa led all states at 96.38%, followed by Kerala at 95.61% and Tamil Nadu at 95.25%. Maharashtra recorded 87.04%.Among institution categories, the dip was most visible at the lower end of the table. Independent schools, which account for the largest share of CBSE affiliates, recorded 84.22%. Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas held steady at 98.55% and 98.47%, respectively, continuing to outperform all other categories by a significant margin.Foreign schools also recorded a dip, falling to 90.50% from 95.01% last year, a drop of 4.51 percentage points. Of the 24,009 students who appeared from 185 foreign schools across 27 countries, 21,728 passed.Supplementary examinations for compartment candidates will be conducted on July 15.