Tamil Nadu govt reduces class 11, 12 total marks to 500

During previous year, the State government had reduced marks from 200 to 100 for each subject in the board exams of the students studying in Class 11 and 12. Currently, Class 11 and 12 students, appearing for State board exams in Tamil Nadu, have five subjects such as Language, English and other four main subjects for both Science and Commerce stream. Each subject carries 100 marks.

A School Education Department order on Wednesday also said that plus one and plus two students can choose between either the present 600-mark pattern titled or the new 500 pattern. However, the order made it very clear that both Language and English will be compulsory subjects for the students.

A senior official from the Directorate of Examination told DT Next that for the Science students can choose three major subjects from the existing Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany, Computer Science and Home Science. Similarly, for Students, who pursue Commerce and Arts, also can choose three main subjects from the present History, Geography, Economics, Commerce, Accountancy, Business Mathematics, Accountancy, Political Science and Advanced Tamil.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education told DT Next that the decision taken to change the examination pattern was after getting the feedback from the academicians, experts and stakeholders. However, he said that there will not be any changes made in the textbooks according to the new norms in the examination pattern.

“The move is to reduce the stress. Now, students will have a choice to elect their subjects as they prefer”, he said adding that this scheme is called as “3-core subject stream”, he said.

Welcoming the government’s move, Tamil Nadu Teacher’s Association President Ilamaran said “new initiative will reduce the stress of the students. Now they will be option to take the higher education course of their own choice.”