CUET vs Class 12 marks: Are board scores losing their value? Experts explain

India Today

12 hours ago

It's a question thousands of students and parents are asking this admission season: with CUET now being the main route into India's top central universities, do Class 12 board marks even matter anymore?The then UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar had also announced back in December 2024 that students would be able to opt for subjects in CUET which they didn't even have in Class 12. He had said this decision had been taken in order to 'cross the strict disciplinary boundaries in higher education'.advertisementHowever, in April, Delhi University noted that while Class 12 results will not impact the DU admissions conducted through CUET, except for pass marks requirement in the exam, students must take the CUET exam in the same subjects they studied in Class 12.
So, while CUET has certainly changed the game, experts say it would be a mistake to write off board exams just yet.NOT OBSOLETE, JUST REPOSITIONED'The introduction of CUET has certainly shifted the spotlight from Class 12 board exams,' says Avnee Khosla, Vice President and Director of Admissions at Shoolini University. 'But it would be both a pedagogical misstep and an oversimplification to consider Class XII board marks obsolete.'She's not alone in this view.CUET may now be the gateway for most central universities, but Class 12 marks continue to play a big role in determining eligibility, breaking tie situations, and even deciding scholarships and admissions in private or state-run universities.advertisementSo no, Class 12 marks aren't dead -- they've just moved to a different place in the admissions puzzle.Kanupriya Shekhar, Senior Director of Admissions and Outreach at Manav Rachna Educational Institutions, puts it clearly: 'The relevancy of Class 12 marks has not become obsolete, it has merely been redefined.'
STILL CRUCIAL FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TIE-BREAKERSFor most CUET-participating universities, students must still meet a minimum Class 12 percentage to be considered. That's the baseline -- even a stellar CUET score won't help if you're not eligible to apply.'Students could still be rejected for the university or course if their Class 12 scores don't fit the minimum requirement,' says Kanupriya Shekhar.Then there's the tie-breaker angle. What happens when two students get the same CUET score? Often, it's the Class 12 marks that decide who gets the seat.'Class 12 marks become the decisive tie-breaking factor for final selection, particularly in competitive courses with many applicants,' explains Enid Verghese Jacob, Deputy Director at Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science.PRIVATE COLLEGES AND STATES STILL DEPEND ON BOARD MARKSadvertisementNot every college has jumped on the CUET bandwagon. Several private universities -- and entire state-level systems -- still follow traditional admission methods. In these cases, board exam results carry far more weight.'Private universities often give greater weightage to Class 12 performance,' Enid Verghese Jacob notes. 'Additionally, a number of states have retained their traditional admission methodologies in lieu of adopting CUET.'So, if you're someone considering options beyond central universities, strong board marks open more doors than you think.BOARD MARKS HELP MORE THAN JUST ADMISSIONSWhat many students miss is how their Class 12 performance can come back into play later -- even after they're admitted.'These scores continue to function as indicators of a student's academic consistency, work ethic, and domain competence,' says Avnee Khosla. 'They guide decisions on institutional cut-offs, merit scholarships, programme-specific eligibility, and even postgraduate admissions in India and abroad.'Vishal Khurma, CEO of Woxsen University, echoes this sentiment. 'CUET can assess aptitude, but it cannot replace the depth of learning acquired in senior school,' he says. 'It's important that we continue to value a strong academic foundation.'
advertisementBOARD STUDY = CUET PREPHere's another twist: students often think preparing for CUET and board exams are two different worlds. But in reality, they overlap much more than they realise.CUET's domain-specific sections are based directly on the Class 12 NCERT syllabus. So, doing well in boards actually gives you a head-start in CUET.'Strong fundamentals built in Class 12 are invaluable for success in CUET,' says Avnee Khosla. Kanupriya Shekhar adds, 'Class 12 acts as the base that helps the student develop the necessary skills and knowledge to dominate in their CUET scores.'The time gap between boards and CUET is also just about 1.5 to 2 months -- which means students must have a solid understanding of their subjects before they even start preparing full-time for CUET.THE REAL RISK: UNDERMINING CLASSROOM LEARNINGIf the perception grows that board exams are no longer important, it could have serious side effects. Experts warn that this could lead to even more dependence on coaching, reduced focus on school learning, and a decline in writing and reasoning skills.'Reducing the perceived value of board examinations will undermine classroom learning, writing skills, and year-round academic discipline,' says Avnee Khosla. 'It will also fuel a hyper-coaching culture.'
advertisementA SMARTER APPROACH: DON'T CHOOSE ONE OVER THE OTHERSo, what should students do?The answer is simple: don't treat board exams and CUET as two different paths. Prepare for both – smartly.'Students should not adopt a dismissive attitude toward board exams despite CUET's prominence,' says Enid Verghese Jacob. 'Viewing them as complementary to CUET preparation rather than separate entities provides maximum admission opportunities.'Kanupriya Shekhar agrees: 'Don't treat board preparation and CUET preparation as two separate tracks. Most of the syllabus overlaps. What's needed is a smart, integrated approach that builds deep understanding instead of rote learning.'With the right plan, students can balance both. They can use board prep as a springboard into CUET, and come out stronger at the end of it.CLASS 12 MARKS STILL MATTER, JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAYCUET may be the biggest headline in college admissions today, but Class 12 board marks still have their place -- in eligibility, in merit lists, in scholarships, and even as tie-breakers.advertisementAs Vishal Khurma sums up, 'While CUET may have shifted the weightage in the admissions process, Class 12 is far from irrelevant. The knowledge and academic discipline built during these years form the bedrock on which higher education rests.'So to all students wondering if they can ditch the board exam grind -- the answer is no. It's still very much part of the journey.Not a burden, not a side quest, but a solid stepping stone.