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“While the CBSE has introduced the grading system in Class X examinations from this year, the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) continues the old system of giving marks. Under the grading system it would be impossible to calculate the exact total aggregate marks or percentage of candidates who have applied for admission in the science and arts streams of HS classes in my college,” the principal of Cotton College, Indra Kumar Bhattacharyya, told this correspondent.

Under the new system of the CBSE, students were awarded grades, ranging from A1 (91-100), A2 (81-90), B1 (71-80), B2 (61-70), C1 (51-60), C2 (41-50), D (33-40), E1 (21-32) and E2 (20 and below).

The grades have equivalent points, which start from 10 for A1 to 4 for D.

As the exact marks will not be revealed by the CBSE, the colleges will have to multiply total points or cumulative grade point average (CGPA) secured by students who had applied for admission, by 9.5 to get the average marks/percentage represented by the grades.

Thus, A1 will be equal to 95, A2 — 85.5, B1 — 76, B2 — 66.5, C1 — 57, C2 — 47.5 and D will be equal to 38 average marks.

Many senior teachers of B. Borooah College and Handique Girls’ College were of the opinion the formula held out by the CBSE to convert grades into marks and percentage was only an approximation and not exact.

“For example, all candidates with A1 might not have secured exactly 95 per cent. The percentage will vary between 91 and 100. But if colleges follow the rule set by the CBSE, the former would have to keep the percentage of all A1 admission-seekers at 95, while percentage of marks of candidates under SEBA will be accurate and exact. Under such circumstances colleges are in a fix as to whether they would fix the cut-off marks for admission on the basis of the percentage-calculating formula of the CBSE or SEBA,” a senior teacher at B. Borooah College said.

Principal of B. Borooah College Dinesh Baishya said the Assam College Principals’ Council held a meeting on Saturday evening to discuss the issue and many members were apprehensive that there might be confusion during admission. He, however, said the principals would use their discretionary powers to do away with the confusion at the time of admission.

SEBA secretary Dhanadev Mahanta said at a time there is a mad rush among students to get themselves enrolled in the institutions, the grade system would create confusion and might deprive many brilliant students who passed the Class X exam under SEBA, seats in leading colleges.

Sanjib Das, the assistant secretary and regional officer in charge of the CBSE (Guwahati region) said the colleges would have to go with the approximate marks of the CBSE candidates.