The ISC board will split the computer science paper into 70 marks theory and 30 marks practical from next year.

Several universities had objected to the current practice of giving equal marks to both on the grounds of giving computer science students an advantage over those appearing for other lab-based subjects like physics, chemistry or biology, in which the theory-practical ratio is 70:30.

Many students had complained to the board that they had faced difficulties during undergraduate admissions because universities were reluctant to consider their marks in computer science because of the 50:50 division.

"In keeping with the requirements of many universities, the break-up of marks of the theory and practical components for computer science has been revised," Gerry Arathoon, chief executive and secretary of the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) said. "Instead of allotting 50 per cent marks in theory and 50 per cent in practicals, 70 per cent will be allotted to theory and 30 per cent to practicals in computer science from 2016."

For more than a decade, ever since computer science was introduced as a subject in the ISC, students have had to write a 100-marks theory paper and a 100-marks practical paper. The average of the marks obtained in the two papers is treated as a student's score in the subject.

In the changed system, the 100-marks computer science paper will be divided into 70-marks theory and 30-marks practical. "The 50-50 component in theory and practical in computer science is unacceptable because almost every board in the country follows the 70-30 structure for all lab-based subjects," said a Calcutta University official.

A large chunk of ISC science students opt for computer science as an elective subject while others go for biological sciences. Since biological sciences has only 30 per cent marks allotted for practicals, students would score less than those who opt for computer science. This disparity would enable a student studying computer science to get a higher aggregate, which is an advantage for managing a berth in a college.

"The new break-up of marks in theory and practical in computer science will remove this disparity," said Nabarun Dey, a member of CISCE executive committee and the principal of Central Modern School.

The new break-up has been introduced in fashion designing, physical education, Indian music (Hindustani), Indian music (Carnatic) and Western music, as well, Arathoon said.