How Will CBSE/ ISC Board Cancellation Impact Private College Admissions 2020

The outbreak of coronavirus in India has impacted many sectors critically and the education sector is one of the most severely affected. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown enforced to contain the virus influenced higher education in India directly and has now changed the entire admission process and education system for the academic year of 2020 - 2021.

Students, parents, academicians, and even the administration are collectively worried about the prevailing conditions and are trying to figure out ways to resume their admission process. In such a scenario, the ICSE and CBSE have cancelled their board exams and that has complicated the situation even more. Both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) have decided that they will cancel the remaining board exams for the year 2020.

This article explores the effect that the cancellation of board exams will have on college admissions in India. Students of class 12th are especially more concerned because their class 12th score goes a long way in academia as well as in their career further.

How Will Admissions 2020 Happen?

While some colleges resort to the means of entrance exams for shortlisting students, there are many institutes in India that rely on the board percentage of applicants while giving them admission. Not only the students but the college authorities will also have to look into the matter and figure out new ways to conduct admissions for the academic session of 2020 - 2021. Some major points regarding the admission process of colleges in 2020 have been listed below.

• Some of the top universities of India like the University of Delhi (DU) base their admission process on the aggregate percentage of the applicants in class 12th board exams.

• Apart from that, many universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) that conduct their individual entrance exams also require students to have scored a certain percentage in class 12th which comprises their eligibility criteria for appearing in the exam.

• As the situation does not seem to get any better, organising entrance exams in which a large number of students appear does not look like a safe, convenient, and possible option. The universities are deciding against holding entrance tests as it will entail a large gathering of students which will be against the social distancing regulations prescribed by the government.

• The idea of selecting students on the basis of their 12th score instead of conducting entrance tests was doing rounds and many academicians and educationists had voted in its favour.

At a time like this, cancelling the pending board exams has become a new subject of concern for students. They are not only confused amidst this chaotic overhaul of events but are also worried about their future as this impacts their higher education plans directly. In the last few months, many petitions and statements have been given by students regarding the suggestions they have for college admissions in India for the year 2020. Colleges and universities have not come up with a final solution to how they will conduct admissions this year yet.

How will the CBSE and ISC Calculate Marks?

With the cancellation of the remaining board exams of both CBSE and ISC, the most important question that arises is how will the class 12th marks be calculated for 2020. The CBSE had provided an affidavit stating that it will consider the average marks obtained by students in the best performing subjects while calculating the result for the exams that stand cancelled now. The students who have given all their CBSE class 12th board exams will be marked based on their scores in those subjects. However, the students who were waiting to sit for their remaining exams will be assessed based on their performance in the exams that they have given. They will be marked through the average scores obtained in those exams.

Therefore, the students who have appeared for the exams of more than three subjects in their class 12th CBSE board exams will be given the average marks secured in their best three subjects. Those who have appeared for only three subjects will be allotted the average marks of the best two subjects in all the remaining subjects whose exams they could not appear in. CBSE has also given students the option of appearing in the board exams of 2020 again.

The ICSE board has also released its assessment scheme for the cancelled board exams. The Council will be considering the following factors while computing the marks of students in the cancelled papers.

• Average of the student's marks in the best three papers in the ICSE and ISC board examination 2020.
• Marks of internal assessment for each subject (for class 10th).
• Marks of practical exams and projects of each subject (for class 12th).
• Percentage of internal assessment of subjects (for ICSE).
• Percentage of projects and practical work of subjects (ISC).

How will Private Colleges Conduct Admissions?

Many private colleges in India have enhanced their admission process with respect to the current situation due to the pandemic. There are some extremely famous and reputed private colleges and universities in India which are taking special efforts to make the admission process easier for students. These colleges are providing easy access to students to the admissions and other details. Check the points mentioned below to know the admission process that colleges

• The entire admission process of private colleges in India is witnessing a shift to the online mode.

• Keeping in mind the present situation due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is quite likely that the admission trend in India will be done online for some time now. No other option can be seen working out in the foreseeable future.

• Private universities are relying on virtual connection and are conducting their admissions through various methods.

• Some colleges are organising entrance exams which the students can give from the comfort of their homes. These exams are proctored by the university for ensuring transparency and fairness.

• Online interviews and interactive sessions are also being held by various colleges. Students get the opportunity to exhibit their skills and knowledge to the examiners and interview panel.

• There are certain private colleges that admit students on the basis of their marks in class 12th. As both the CBSE and the ISC have released their assessment scheme for 2020, these universities will follow those methods to evaluate the aggregate score of candidates and will give them admission based on that.

• It is estimated that most of these colleges will conduct their classes in the online mode for at least the beginning of the semester. The chances of classes being delivered on-campus do not appear to be high as of now.

Also Read: Changes in DU Admissions or Cut Off Due to CBSE/ ISC Exams Cancellation

Why is it Important to Take Admission Now and Secure a Seat?

College admissions will undoubtedly be greatly impacted by the cancellation of CBSE and ISC board exams 2020. However, the students need to be alert regarding their higher education and should not be negligent about notifications and deadlines released by colleges. Regardless of the prevailing uncertainty, students must not become unmindful of the scenario and there should be no scope of lax efforts from their end. Mentioned below are some points that students must consider regarding their admissions.

• It is important that candidates continue applying to the colleges that are offering admissions and have opened their application process.

• Many private colleges in India are taking advantage of technology and selecting students through online interactions and tests that are proctored from home.

• The importance of students taking admission now does not need to be pointed out because the seats of all these institutes are limited and there might be no vacancies available shortly after the admission process commences.

• Submitting the application forms at the earliest will give you an upper hand and will definitely enhance your chances of getting admission. As there is a huge crowd of individuals who are freshly out of school and are looking to get enrolled in the undergraduate course of their choice, time is the most important factor here.

• The best option for students right now is to secure admission in any good college that offers the programme in which they seek admission.

Wasting even a day’s time can come at a great cost, given the unpredictable times. CollegeDekho provides special counselling services to students and guides them through the admission process. The counsellors will talk to you and find out where your interests are and then they will suggest the best colleges according to your preferences. These suggestions will not only be based on your choice of course but also on several other factors like the city in which you wish to study, how much are you willing to spend for your degree, the other facilities that you want from the college, your future plans, etc.

Top Private Colleges in India Conducting Admissions 2020

We have provided a list of the best universities which you can consider for taking admission. These universities are widely popular and offer the best facilities to their students. In terms of academics and pedagogy as well, these universities have been recognised nationally and have also received prestigious awards and rankings.

Also Read: CBSE Class 12th Pending Exams 2020 Cancelled - Check Pass Criteria

Stay tuned to CollegeDekho to get more information about college admissions in India. You can write to us on the QnA portal of CollegeDekho if you have any queries regarding admissions or courses. If you want to speak to our counsellors, you can call on the toll-free number 1800-572-9877 and get expert solutions to all your problems. You can also fill our Common Application Form (CAF) if you need assistance in finding the best college for yourself.