INDIAN BOARD EXAMS CANCELLED – HOW WILL IT IMPACT MY STUDY ABROAD PLANS?

The second wave of the pandemic hit India suddenly and unexpectedly, and the country was literally off-balance. Unfortunately, its timing coincided with the yearly board exams of class 10 and class 12. While class 10 exams were cancelled, a decision was pending for class 12 exams. The suspense finally ended in June as the exams were finally scrapped. Apart from CBSE and ICSE, state boards have also sided with the decision citing safety concerns for students amid the surge. 

While the news came as a relief for some, it is a huge dampener for study abroad aspirants. The delay was stressful enough as colleges in the UK, US, Canada, and other destinations will start in September. Further postponement of the board exams would have crushed their study abroad plans. But the announcement of cancellation is equally overwhelming. The impact of alternative assessment criteria on the final decision of foreign universities is yet to be seen.

WHAT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO SAY

While things right now are based on guesswork, some universities are clearing their stance on the situation. For example, the University of South Florida (USF) has stated that they will consider the results of class 10, while the alternative assessment results will not affect the decision to admit Indian students. Further, they may tweak the admission process for the next year as class 10 and 11 exams have also been cancelled. Similarly, the University of Portsmouth has seconded the mindset. They intend to evaluate applicants based on their class 10 results.

But things may not be the same for all international universities as experts emphasise the significance of class 12 percentage as admission criteria for most institutions. There is hardly a chance that reputed global universities will sideline it as a part of the admission process. They will probably follow the alternate assessment and consider the results, even as they may rely on provisional mark sheets and predictive scores to process applications.

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) will give admission only on the basis of class 12 results provided by the concerned examination board. It does not plan to have an additional assessment test as a part of the admission process. For students, it can be confusing, but the final decision boils down to the international university they choose to study abroad.

WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT

Even as the outcomes of the cancellation announcement may vary for Indian students, they will have a clear picture now. For those opting for universities like USF, the admission process will become faster and smoother. They will only require a pass certificate from the board to confirm admission because the university considers it an equivalent of a US high school diploma.

Conversely, some Indian students may want to explore the option of appearing for the board exam as the government has given it to those not happy with their alternative assessment grades. However, these will be held at a later date, which translates into a further delay in admissions. When universities were asked about the option, they stated that it will not affect their admission process. The final decision depends on the student, and foreign universities do not intend to pressurise them at all.

Study abroad specialists’ view that most students will be happy with the alternative assessment results and can continue with their overseas education plans. At the same time, the alternative assessment is going to be valuable. But it will be a challenge for the boards to come up with a system good enough to justify the cancellation of exams. Everyone needs to understand that the situation is unprecedented, and the steps needed to deal with it should be equally creative.

What really matters to Indian study abroad aspirants is to get into the universities of their choice, which they probably will. If you plan to study in an international university, thorough research and knowledge of their process and timelines will set you up for success.


If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?


Back to top