Matriculation in India

In India, "matriculation" (sometimes called "matric") is a term commonly used to refer to the final year of high school, which ends at tenth standard (tenth grade) and the qualification received on finishing the tenth standard (tenth grade) of high school and passing the or the state board exams, commonly called "matriculation exams". Most students who pass out of matriculation, or class 10, are 15-16 years old. Once the Matric year and exam have been passed, students are said to have "matriculated". Upon successfully passing, a student may continue onto junior college (equivalent of British Sixth Form (16-18 years old)) for Intermediate Exams (equivalent to British A' or Advanced Level Examination). The 11th and 12th standards (grades) are usually referred to as "first year junior college" and "second year junior college". Most students who pass out of class 12 are 17-18 years old.

India continued to use terms such as Matriculation Exams and Intermediate Exams taken from the days of the British Raj although these terms were replaced in England itself with O' or Ordinary Level Examinations (now called GCSE) and A' or Advanced Level Examinations post World War II. Specialising in 3 or 4 A' level subjects for basis of entry to university; a system followed in many of the former British colonies unlike American system which has a much broader range of subjects, but to a lower level, for entry to university. The American 1st year level at university is regarded as equivalent to the British A' Level. Consequently the American degrees are of longer duration and some (e.g. Medicine) are only done post graduation of first degree course.

With the introduction of separate entrance examinations for entry into medicine, engineering and law courses, many students (especially those opting for science) tend to take their 12th exams lightly. Entrance exams usually comprise of multiple-choice-questions on physics, chemistry and biology (or mathematics) and are conducted separately on national and state levels. Additionally some highly coveted institutions hold their own entrance tests. These competitive exams are among the toughest in the world and competition is intense, for example over 400,000 students appear for the IIT-JEE exam, competing for 13,500 seats at the IITs. Just as the IIT-JEE is for the IITs, BITSAT is conducted for admission to another of India's elite universities, Birla Institute of Technology and Science for Bachelor’s in Engineering programs in its Pilani, Hyderabad and Goa campuses. About two lakh students compete in BITSAT for ,500 seats in the various BITS campuses.The CBSE and ICSE boards conduct twelfth standard courses nationally, while state boards operate at the state-level.

See also

• Matriculation
• Education in India