Bhaktapur, April 19

The Office of the Controller of Examinations has decided to award separate grades for practical and theory tests in the School Leaving Certificate examinations.

Earlier, the OCE had decided to add up the marks in practical and theory exams and award a single grade to SLC examinees.

The OCE took a decision to this effect after parents and students complained that a single grade for practical and theory tests would discourage hardworking students.

A majority of students get full marks in the practical tests, which are conducted by their respective schools. Any student could get a good grade if the scores of both theory and practical tests were added up.

Hence, students had demanded that grades for practical and theory tests be awarded separately.

The Ministry of Education had earlier decided to grant nine grades — A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and N — to SLC examinees based on the marks obtained in the exam. A+ meaning ‘outstanding’ is awarded to students scoring between 90 and 100, A meaning ‘excellent’ to students scoring between 80 and 89, B+ meaning ‘very good’ to those scoring between 70 and 79, B meaning ‘good’ to scores between 60 and 69, C+ meaning ‘above average’ to scores between 50 and 59, and C meaning ‘average’ to scores between 40 and 49.

Likewise, D is for scores between 20 and 39, E to scores between 1 and 19 and N meaning ‘not graded’ for students who remained absent or were expelled.

A+ is equivalent to four GPA, A to 3.6, B+ to 3.2, B to 2.8, C+ to 2.4, C to 2.0, D to 1.6, and E to 0.8.

Krishna Prasad Kapri, examination controller, OCE said, “SLC examinees will now be awarded separate grades for practical and theory tests.”