Wrong marking, blurred scans, portal glitches: CBSE's OSM evaluation faces fresh scrutiny amid re-evaluation process
New Delhi, May 22
Access to scanned answer sheets under CBSE's Class 12 re-evaluation process has exposed deeper concerns surrounding the board's controversial On-Screen Marking system, with students alleging incorrect marking, blurred scanned copies, and repeated glitches on the portal.
CBSE's Class 12 examination results this year have been marred by controversy over the newly introduced digital evaluation process, with several students claiming they received unexpectedly low marks.
Amid growing outrage, the board opened the process for verification of marks, access to scanned answer books and re-evaluation.
However, the re-evaluation process itself has now come under criticism, with students alleging unreadable answer sheets, unchecked responses and technical failures on the portal.
Under the OSM system introduced this year, answer sheets were scanned digitally and evaluated on-screen instead of being physically checked by examiners.
Soon after results were declared, students across subjects - particularly Physics, Mathematics, Accountancy and Economics - began alleging discrepancies in marking and unusually low scores.
The controversy intensified after students started accessing scanned copies of their evaluated answer sheets through the re-evaluation window.
Several students shared screenshots on the post on X alleging that portions of their answer sheets were blurred to the extent that the handwriting itself was difficult to decipher.
"How are evaluators checking copies if students themselves cannot read the scanned pages?" one user wrote while sharing screenshots of blurred pages from the evaluated answer book.
There has been no official response from CBSE on the issues raised by students so far. Another student alleged that complete answers and calculations were left unchecked despite being clearly attempted in the physical copy.
In another post, a student claimed that marks awarded on individual pages did not match the final total reflected in the result. Others alleged that step marking was either ignored or inconsistently awarded in numerical subjects.
Several students also complained that the re-evaluation portal repeatedly crashed during payment and application submission.
"The portal isn't functioning properly. Payments are failing and copies are not loading," a user wrote on X, while another claimed that the website became inaccessible during peak hours.
Students also raised concerns over answers spanning multiple pages allegedly being evaluated partially under the digital system.
The criticism comes weeks after social media was flooded with complaints from students and parents questioning the implementation of the OSM system. Many students alleged that their scores were significantly lower than expected despite strong academic records and internal assessments.
Following the backlash, CBSE reduced the fee for obtaining scanned answer sheets and re-evaluation requests to Rs 100 per subject. The board also issued a clarification regarding the post-result process and said students must first apply for verification of marks, following which they can access photocopies of evaluated answer books and seek re-evaluation of specific questions.
CBSE had earlier rejected allegations of lapses in the digital evaluation process, terming claims regarding faulty scanning and improper checking as "factually incorrect". The board maintained that the scanning and evaluation process underwent multiple levels of quality checks to ensure fairness and transparency.
Despite the clarification, criticism around the OSM system has continued to intensify online, with students demanding a review of the digital evaluation mechanism and greater accountability in the assessment process.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I understand the need for digitalization but the implementation has been terrible. A student in my coaching class lost 15 marks in Physics because the scanner didn't capture a full page of calculations. The step marking inconsistency is another major issue - one examiner gives marks for working, another doesn't. CBSE needs a transparent reevaluation process with actual human oversight, not just automated checks. Hope the education ministry steps in.
It's heartbreaking to see students who worked hard scoring way below their potential because of technical failures. The portal crashing during payment is adding insult to injury - parents are already stressed and these glitches make things worse. I appreciate CBSE reducing fees but they need to fix the root cause. Blurry scans and unchecked answers are not acceptable when careers are at stake. Students deserve better.
While I empathize with students, let's also consider that examiners might be struggling with poor scan quality too. The OSM system could work if proper scanning equipment is used and quality checks are done before evaluation. But right now, it's a mess - my friend's daughter got 92 in Chemistry internals but only 78 in boards with similar preparation. Something is definitely wrong. CBSE should conduct a third-party audit of this system.
As someone who works in IT, this is a classic case of poor project management. You can't implement a nationwide digital evaluation system without rigorous testing, backup plans, and real-time monitoring. The fact that blurred scans and portal crashes are happening in 2024 is embarrassing. However, I appreciate CBSE's quick response to reduce fees, but they need to go further - maybe allow students to request physical re-evaluation at no extra cost for those affected by technical glitches.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.