Is 100% cut-off justifiable?

As the admission season has proliferated across the nation, major number of colleges have started releasing their cut off marks. The admissions in Delhi University has once again touched the 100 per cent cut off marks for the undergraduate courses. 

Let us now understand "what is a cut off?" and "Is 100% cut off justifiable?".

What is a Cut off?

A cut off mark is the minimum mark or percentage required for admission in a course or a college.Cut off varies for different exams and from exam to exam, it also varies with availability of vacancies and competitive level exams .

100% cut off! Really?

This year, the university’s admission process has been the highest with Lady Shri Ram College for Women setting 100% cut offs for three programmes, College of Vocational Studies and Indraprastha College for Women setting 100 per cent for the Computer Science program. and a total of 30 programmes across all colleges have cut-offs of 99% or higher.

The key fact behind such high cut offs is that about 5,500 students scored 100% in "best of four percentage" .

The other primary reason is the Board Exams Result 2020. Increase in this year's board result is also one of the reason for colleges to increase their cut off.

Is 100% cut off justifiable?

The main question that arises is whether 100% cut off justifiable to students? Below are some of the arguments advocating the aforementioned question.

Motivates Students: High cut off marks motivates the students across the country to prepare well and score sterling marks in their board marks in order to get admission in such reputed colleges.

Increase in Spirit and Competition: High cut off marks leads to an increase in spirit of competition among the students helping them in preparing for many more competitive exams.

Large Population: Every student dreams of getting admission in the most reputed college of the country. Thus, increasing number of applications are the main reason for such high cut offs.

Following are some arguments refuting the aforementioned question.

Demotivates Students: High cut offs demotivates the average students who are planning to take admissions in  these colleges.

Loss of opportunity: A cut off of 100% in colleges does not only mean lack of opportunity but also maintains a feedback mechanism.

Does not reflect talent: High cut off reflects only the academic excellence of the student. It ignores the intellect and talent of the students. 

Conclusion

Focusing and judging students on the basis of his/her academics is not justifiable on the part of the colleges. Colleges should focus more on interviews and aptitude test rather than just academics wherein the students can prove their mental ability.

High Cut offs are demotivating and disheartening for the students preventing them to get admission into the prestigious colleges of the country. It also increases anxiety levels among the students and parents.

The college authorities should not only consider the brilliant students but also the average students, who if given opportunity, will come out with flying colors.

I hope you all agree with my point of view. Comment your views on whether 100% cut off is justifiable or not.  Follow the account for many more interesting blogs.