Grade Five scholarship:

Slight increase in pass percentage

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

Of the 310,329 students who sat the Grade Five scholarship examination, 33,383 have got through obtaining above 152 marks, which is a 10.76 pass percentage, Examination Commissioner General MNJ Pushpakumara said.

“This is a slight increase in the pass percentage when compared to last year's figure which was 10.38 last year,” he said.

“A student had to obtain 70 marks out of 200 to get through the Grade 5 examination,” the Commissioner added.

Accordingly, a student had to obtain at least 35 marks each for the two papers amounting to 70 marks to reach the cut off point. Those who scored 70 marks or above are categorized as ‘Pass’. But these ‘Pass’ students are not qualified for bursaries. Only economically disadvantaged students who have obtained 152 marks and above are entitled to calming for bursaries, the Commissioner General noted.

Of the 33,383 students who passed the examination, 27,454 (82 percent) are Sinhala medium students while the balance 5,929 (18 percent) are Tamil medium students.

“Considering the performance of candidates by provincial base, the North Western Province has secured first place obtaining the highest percentage of 12.15. The Sabaragamuwa Province is in second place with 11.81 percentage and the Southern Province in third place with a 11.76 percentage” Pushpakumara said.

“Though the country percentage of the candidates, the marks obtained above the cut off point is 10.76, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Western and North Central Provinces obtained a mark percentage which is above the cut off point,” he said.

He further said the Examinations Department will issue a certificate for all students who secured 70 marks.