A student checks his CBSE Class X result on the Internet in Patna on Friday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, June 10: Priya Prashar, a student of DAV BSEB Colony, is elated securing A1 grade in CBSE Class X exam. But she will repent throughout her life for missing the school topper tag.

Prashar told The Telegraph: “With the introduction of the grading system by the CBSE, the concept of school topper has died a natural death because several students get the same grade.”

Besides Prashar, 71 more students of her school secured the same grade — A1. Last year, around 23 students of DAV BSEB Colony secured A1 grade.

Aishwarya Krishna, a student of Notre Dame Academy, was not happy with the grading system. Krishna, who also secured A1 grade, said: “The grading system aims at overall development of students but it has cut down the competition factor big time.”

The CBSE introduced the grading system in Class X examination last year with an aim for overall development of students. The grades are given on nine-point scale, ranging from A1 (excellent) to E2 (dissatisfactory). D is the minimum pass grade. A1 represents above 91 per cent score. B1 is awarded to students scoring between 81 and 90 per cent. The range of D is from 33 to 40 per cent and that of E1 and E2 is below 33.

Ramanuj Prasad, the principal of DAV BSEB, said: “The grading system has both positive and negative aspects. Its positive aspect is the overall personality development of students as 40 per cent of marks are allotted based on class, semester tests and extra-curricular activities in Class X. The rest 60 per cent is awarded on the basis of performance in the Class X board examination.”

Prasad said: “With the introduction of the grading system, the competition among students has gone down because nobody is named topper. Its other fallout is the alleged favouritism in awarding marks to students in extra-curricular activities.”

Mithilesh Tiwary, a teacher of Christ Church Diocesan Church School, said the grading system was not in the larger interest of students, teachers and parents because the competition diminished after its introduction.

Aditya Shekhar of DAV BSEB, who also got A1 grade, said: “As the grading system is based on continuous and comprehensive evaluation, including formative assessment and summative assessment, those who don’t fare well in either of these suffer.”