Stricter evaluation has reduced the number of students in the higher mark ranges. For instance, this year, only 231 students scored above 1,180 marks, whereas last year, there were 1,171 students.
In each of the subsequent mark ranges, the number of students has fallen drastically.
Though the strict evaluation may not affect admission to medicine or Indian systems of medicine (the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is the qualifying test), it could push up the cut-off for courses in pharmacy, nursing, paramedical and allied health sciences.
The cut-off for engineering could fall by one mark, estimates Erode-based educational consultant Murthy Selvakumaran. “There has been a 400% fall in the number of students in the 1,180 mark range, which is a result of strict evaluation. The cut-off could fall by 1.5 for the 194.75 to 185 mark range. And it could be 2 marks lower in the 180 to 160 mark range,” he says.
But engineering educators feel that with a recession year and fewer jobs, students may stay away from engineering programmes.
S. Kuppuswami, principal of the Kongu Engineering College, says the overall performance of students has been lower compared to the last two-three years.
There has been only a marginal fall in pass percentage, he points out.
NEET preparation
The marks may also indicate that students may have concentrated on NEET rather than Class 12 exams.
For Commerce subjects, which have always been in demand, the competition would be tougher, teachers say.
