– Mita Mukherjee

The marks of more than 12,000 answer scripts of Bengal Madhyamik (Class X) examinations that were re-checked in post-publication scrutiny of results this year have changed, prompting several students and guardians to raise questions on the mechanism followed by the state secondary board in its result preparation system.

This year, 41,781 candidates had applied for post-publication scrutiny. In all, 1,33,492 answer scripts were re-checked for scrutiny after publication of the 2024 Madhyamik results. The marks in 12, 468 answer scripts changed.

In the post-publication scrutiny system, answer scripts are not re-examined. The scripts are re-checked to ensure that marks have been awarded for all the questions the student has attempted or whether the student has been allotted less marks. The board also finds out whether the totaling of the marks has been done or whether the student has been awarded less marks due to human error or computer-related fault.

The 2024 Madhyamik exams were held in February and the results were declared on May 2.

Aggrieved candidates applied for scrutiny and review of their results within two weeks of the declaration of the Madhyamik results. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education that conducts the Madhyamik exam, published the results of the post-publication scrutiny and review on Friday.

In the post-publication review of results, the entire paper is re-evaluated.

As many as 3,508 examinees applied for review this year and 14,229 scripts were re-evaluated. The marks in 1,238 answer scripts changed after the review.

The ranks of eleven candidates improved after the scrutiny and review of whom seven managed to secure a position in the merit list.

Since the marks have gone up in so many cases after scrutiny, students and guardians have raised questions on the competency of the examiners.

“The enhanced marks show that my son was awarded less marks than what he deserved. Five marks increased in his math paper. Why should he get even one mark less than what he deserves. In fact, no one should be deprived of what she or he actually deserves,” said Jaya Das, the mother of an examinee.

The state secondary board had courted controversy several times before when marks of large numbers of students were increased after scrutiny.

According to another guardian, the post-publication scrutiny of results this year shows that the mistakes have cropped up due to human errors, which was common more than 15 years ago.

“The scrutiny results show that the problem still persists despite the board’s claim that the examination and result publication system has been modernised. The marks of many more students would have increased if they had applied for scrutiny,” said the guardian.  

Board president Ramanuj Ganguly said all possible steps are taken to maintain perfection in evaluation and result preparation system.   

Asked whether action would be taken against the examiners responsible for awarding wrong marks, Ganguly said the board will take necessary steps to reduce human errors.