What Happens When You DON’T Score 90% in Board Exams?
Yes, the Board examinations are crucial determinants of academic success and aid in getting admissions. But they are not the be-all and end all of the careers. While some students manage to score well in Boards, many others miss the 90% mark. And that is completely alright. There is no reason to panic. There is no need to get disheartened if you could not score 90% in Boards.
You still have a host of exciting career options and opportunities. Read on to find out what exactly needs to be done if your Board exam mark sheet is not your best friend at the moment.
Aim for Entrance Exams
Focus on what’s next. The immediate step now is to level up your preparation for upcoming entrance exams. In India, several institutions give more importance to the rank obtained in entrance exams rather than Board examination scores. Some of the important entrance exams that act as gateways to pursuing medical and engineering courses are:
- JEE: Joint Entrance Examination for engineering degree courses
- NEET: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical degree courses
- COMEDK: Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka
Similarly, there are state-specific entrance examinations that aid students in getting admission into professional degree courses and undergraduate programs. Assess your shortcomings from the Board results and focus more on those areas to be well prepared for entrance examinations. Start appearing for All India level mock exams that are conducted by teaching centers. Go through previous years' questions and cheat sheets on platforms like
Toppr Answr even helps you connect with experts instantly for doubt resolutions.
Expand your College Search
While many colleges and universities consider Board exam scores for admissions, there are many which do not base admissions on Board exam scores. Explore lists of colleges and universities that suit your choice of career. While there are premium government institutions like IITs and IIMs, there are also several reputed private institutions that are helping lakhs of students pursue higher studies. Make a list of colleges based on your scores and start applying for professional courses.
Here are some ways to stay updated about the latest colleges and universities.
- Attend education expos and exhibits in your locality
- Speak to students of currently functional colleges
- Assess past placement records of colleges
- Fact-check universities (year of establishment, accreditation, etc.)
Explore Skill-Based Career Options
Regardless of your 12th Board exam score, you can still pursue your passion by choosing a niche-oriented career option. With skill-based careers such as Fashion Designing, Aviation, Leather Research and many other options, you can straighten out your priorities and pursue the same. Skill-based careers have a wide scope of career opportunities as they encourage people to specialize in their unique niche. Several universities with reputed accreditations provide certification courses and help students pursue a practical-oriented career. Courses such as hotel management, aviation, home sciences, design technology do not rely much on the 12th Board exam scores. Many deemed universities even offer mainstream professional courses in engineering and medicine. This means you still have a choice to pursue a professional degree from a decent institution.
Keep aiming to perform well in whichever stream you choose. There is no need to panic once you realize there are a plethora of courses available for you to pursue. Professional courses may need you to crack an additional entrance exam. Perform well in the entrance exams and build on what you have. Assess your academic strengths and weaknesses and seek guidance from career counselors. In the run-up to the entrance exams, make sure you study smart, not hard. Utilize easily accessible doubt resolution apps like Toppr Answr and save time. Understand that what has passed cannot be rectified and that there is still hope around the corner. All the best!
