Cut-off marks: A tough challenge for students!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 12: Cut-off marks for admission in the reputed colleges in Guwahati are a challenge even for a number of meritorious students who have passed High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC), Assam High Madrassa (AHM) and Higher Secondary examitions with flying colours this year.

Back in the days, 65 per cent marks in HSLC or AHM was enough for a student to get a seat in B. Barooah College. Likewise, 75 per cent was enough for a seat in HS Science in Cotton College. Gone are those days.

Last year, the cut-off marks for HS Science in Cotton College was 91 per cent and for Arts it was 87 per cent. The cut-off marks in the college this year, according to college authorities, are like to go up. This year, the college has 400 seats for HS Science and 160 for HS Arts. The college has 410 seats for TDC Arts and 485 for TDC Science.

B. Barooah College has 240 seats for HS Science, 300 for HS Arts and 120 for HS Commerce. In TDC, the college has 460 for Arts and 460 for Science. The cut-off marks of the college in HS Science was 82 per cent and 74 per cent for HS Arts last year.

Handique Girls' College has 100 seats each for HS Arts and Science. For TDC Arts it has 580 seats for major courses and 50 seats for pass courses, and for TDC Science it has 214 seats major courses and 40 seats for pass courses.   

While Gauhati Commerce College has 450 seats for HS Commerce and 615 seats for TDC Commerce, Pandu College has 100 seats each for HS Science, Arts and Commerce. For TDC Arts Pandu College has 400 seats and 200 each seats for TDC Commerce and Science courses.

SB Deorah College has 100 each seats for HS Arts and Commerce. For TDC Arts it has 300 seats Arts and for TDC Commerce it has 120 seats.

It is worth mentioning here that the number of students who passed the HSLC and AHM examitions this year was 2,39,614. The number of students who passed HS Science, Arts and Commerce this year was 1,97,044.

The cut-off marks in all the colleges are likely to go up this year with the number of students securing distinction and star marks going up.

The availability of hostel seats is a matter that has much to do in admission into colleges. SB Deorah College has 30 seats in its girls' hostel. Around 20-25 per cent of students of the college are from other States in the Northeast who need hostel accommodation. B Barooah College has 110 seats in its boys' hostel which is not enough to give justice to the students.

While Handique Girls College has 135 seats in its hostel, Gauhati Commerce College has around 100 seats. Pandu College has 60 seats for boys and 70 for girls. Cotton College has 110 seats for boys and 66 for girls.

College authorities are in favour of increasing the number of hostel seats. Talking on this issue, B Barooah College Principal Dr. Satyendra th Barman said: "We're handicapped in increasing the number of hostel seats as land has always been a scare in Guwahati. If the government thinks of combined hostels for various colleges of the State, the guardians of students will feel more secured. This will also generate employment opportunities and revenue for the government."