The Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) Examinations for Maharashtra are currently being held. The printing glitch that occurred in the HSC English Exam has been recognised by the authorities, as three questions were missing from the question paper. On March 4, 2023, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) declared that the Board will now grant 6 marks to all students who attempted those questions.

More insights on the missing questions

The HSC exam began on February 21, 2023 with mistakes in the English question paper; three questions worth two marks each were missing. The glitches were identified in the poetry section (Question 3: A3, A4 and A5). Instead of actual questions, sub-questions A3 and A5 featured instructions for the examiner to follow while assessing the paper and the answer to the sub-question A4.

Does every student benefit from the board's decision?

The board has decided to give marks to all the students who have attempted the sub-questions A3, A4, and A5 of the poetry section. Students will receive 2 marks for each of the three questions, for a total of 6 marks, and those students who choose not to attempt those questions will not be awarded any marks.

Prevailing notion among teachers and parents

Many teachers and parents, however, think that these 6 marks should be given to all students who took the exam, regardless of whether or not they attempted the questions. Teachers have voiced support for all students who appeared for board exams to receive these 6 marks because these are the student’s first board examinations following online assessment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.