Monday, Jan 12, 2009
A rational formula evolved by the Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University, Tiruchi, M. Ponnavaikko, for awarding grade or grade points under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) is under the consideration of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education for implementation throughout the State. Several universities in the northern States of the country have also evinced interest in the formula.

Under the system, the grade is 'S' for Outstanding(score of 90 to 100 marks, for which 10 points are awarded). Likewise, the grade is 'A' for Excellent (80 - 89, nine points), 'B' for Very Good (70 to 79 marks, eight points), 'C' for Good (60 to 69 marks, seven points), 'D' for Average (50 to 59 marks, six points), 'E' for Satisfactory (40 to 49 marks, five points), and RA for Reappear (0-39 marks). Assuming that a student has scored 65 per cent in a subject in the university examination, as valued by examiners in the valuation centre, and the average of marks scored above 30 per cent by all students in that subject is 58 per cent, the first step to assess CGPA (Combined Grade Point Average) is arriving at the average grade in the grading scale of S, A, B, C, D and E.

Considering that 'B' (score of 70 to 79) is the average grade in the scale, the second step involves equating the mid-point value (74.5) to the subject average of the marks scored above 30 per cent, said Prof. Ponnavaikko.

The third and final step is to arrive at the normalised marks: ie, the actual marks (65) must be divided by the subject average of the marks scored (58) and multiplied with the mid-point value of 'B' grade (74.5). Here, it works out to 83.5 marks. Hence, the corresponding Grade Point is nine and the Grade to be awarded is 'A'.