From 2027, ISC examinees will have to pass in Eng & 4 subjects
Times of India | 13 February 2025
12 Kolkata: From 2027, students taking the ISC examination — class XII boards — will have to secure pass marks in five subjects including English to get a pass certificate. Currently, they are required to pass in English and three other subjects. Students may also appear in a sixth subject.
The revised norm brings ISC on a par with class XII board examinations conducted by CBSE and West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. However, the pass marks for each subject in ISC will remain 40, unlike CBSE and HS, which have more relaxed pass marks of 33 and 30 respectively.
The current batch appearing for ISC this week and the one that takes the boards next year will clear the exam if they pass English and any three subjects. The new rule will come into effect for students who enrol for ISC after clearing the class X boards or ICSE this year, according to a circular issued by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Wednesday.
Principals of several CISCE-affiliated schools felt the new rule would be an an additional burden on students. Some others felt it was necessary to align with other boards.
"Children used to study English and three subjects, but now they will have to pass in five subjects. So, they will have to learn a little bit more," said Heritage School principal Seema Sapru.
Rammohan Mission School principal Sujoy Biswas said, "Most ISC students take English and four, often even five, subjects even though they were required to pass in only English and three subjects. So, this will not be a burden at all. Other boards follow this format, so it will not be difficult for our children."
The Council will also introduce subjects like Modern English, applied mathematics, artificial intelligence, robotics and Bhutia language from this year for students who take the examination in 2027. However, certain combinations like English with modern English, physics with engineering science, mathematics with applied mathematics, and robotics with artificial intelligence will not be allowed.
The Council has also decided to issue a single document — ‘Pass Certificate cum Statement of Marks' — from 2027 instead of the separate statement of marks and pass certificate that are issued now. The term ‘pass certificate awarded/not awarded' will be replaced by ‘Qualified/Not Qualified'.