The results of the Class X examinations that were released on Monday were significant for the simple reason that for the first time ever all Class X students across Tamil Nadu had answered the same question paper.
The Common School Syllabus (CSS) that has been implemented across the State over the past academic year, has done away with various boards (such as the State Board, Matriculation, Anglo Indian, etc), to make way for one consolidated list of toppers from among all the students.
While the pass percentage did register a small rise, there were significant changes in the scoring patterns.
The overall pass percentage registered an increase of close to one percentage point, rising to 86.2 per cent from last year’s 85.3 per cent.
This itself has been touted by educationists as a silver lining, as they said they were prepared to face the eventuality of a dip in the percentage due to the introduction of CSS.
The most significant changes however were in the total number of centums.
The decrease in centums did not capture the fundamental changes in the scoring patterns of the students. And true to the script of the years past, girls outshone the boys.