Photo courtesy: QuinnDombrowski

The Common Admission Test admission rules are very clear. On the website, it clearly states that the percentages for both X and XII have to be calculated taking into account all subjects mentioned on the candidate’s marksheet.

Yet, every year, many candidates do just the opposite, especially those from the Indian Certificate for Secondary Education (ICSE) and Indian School Certificate (ISC) boards. They calculate their percentages on the basis of the best four out of five subjects.

Some of the Indian Institutes of Management have found a way around such ‘confused’ candidates – they simply do not admit them.

Sanjeet Singh, admission co-ordinator, IIM Calcutta, wonders why candidates are even doubtful about such simple issues. “When the CAT website clearly states that the aggregate percentage has to be mentioned, there is no question of a different rule for different boards,” he said.

Candidates who calculate their percentages on the basis of best of five often go through the initial process of admissions but get stuck at the final count. Prof Arnab K Laha, admission director, IIM Ahmedabad, said that there is no way to cross check the percentages at the initial stage. “All candidates who have got calls are allowed to participate in the GD/PI process. However, when the final admission lists are being prepared, the percentages are cross checked with the candidate’s original documents.”

Dr Laha remembers encountering such cases last year too. “In such cases, even if there was a change in percentage, the candidate was allowed admission to the b-school if he fulfilled the admission criteria. However, when a candidate’s percentage fell below the institute requirements, he was disqualified from the admission process,” he said.

Candidates who have indeed inserted the best of four out of five marks in their application forms says that the CAT registration forms ask that percentages have to be calculated according to respective ‘board’ rules. “According to my board (ICSE and ISC), the final percentage is best four out of five respectively. I mentioned the percentages accordingly,” an aspirant who did not wish to be named told PaGaLGuY.

Another aspirant who has also mentioned his percentage based on marks in best four out of five subjects admits that he made a mistake. He has got a call from IIM Kozhikhode but is unsure about the course of action he should take now. “I think I will meet the institute’s requirements even with my aggregate percentage scores. I don’t know whether I should contact the institute or just land at the institute,” he said.

However, some b-schools such as IIM Ranchi do not give weightage to standard X and XII percentages. MJ Xavier, Director, IIM Ranchi said that he has never really come across this problem. “Although it does not make a difference in the admission process to our institute, if some aspirants are not filling up their aggregate marks, it is unfair to those who are,” he concluded.

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