A remarkable and perplexing case from Gujarat has captured national attention: a girl who scored 705 out of 720 in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) has failed her Class XII (science) board exams and supplementary exams, making her ineligible for college admission.
The Initial Success
The girl initially stunned everyone by securing an impressive 705 out of 720 in NEET-UG, a highly competitive national entrance exam for medical college admission. Her exceptional performance placed her in the top 99.94th percentile overall, with percentiles of 99.89 in physics, 99.14 in chemistry, and 99.14 in biology. This score would typically guarantee a free seat in a top medical college.
The Unexpected Failure
Despite her stellar NEET performance, the girl failed her Class XII board exams conducted in March, particularly in physics and chemistry. The contrast between her NEET and board exam results raised eyebrows and led to widespread speculation. Her board exam score was just 352 out of 700, a stark difference from her NEET score.
Supplementary Exams and Continued Struggle
Hoping to rectify her board exam results, the girl took the Gujarat board’s supplementary exams in June, which are designed to give students who failed up to three papers a second chance. Unfortunately, she failed to pass physics again, scoring only 22 marks in the supplementary exam, compared to 21 on her first attempt. In chemistry, she managed to scrape through with exactly 33 marks, the passing score, after initially scoring 31 in March.
Doubts and Controversy
The failure in supplementary exams has intensified doubts about the validity of her NEET score. Given the disparity between her NEET results and her board exam performance, education experts are calling for a thorough investigation. A member of the state education fraternity emphasized the need for scrutiny, stating, “It is highly improbable for a student who can’t get passing marks in state board exams to get one of the highest scores in this highly competitive national entrance test for medicine. The case must definitely be probed.”
Social Media and Public Reaction
The girl’s NEET and HSC science mark sheets, bearing the same name, have circulated widely on social media, further fueling the controversy. While sources have confirmed the validity of these scores, The Times of India has not yet independently verified if the mark sheets indeed belong to the same individual.
Supreme Court Ruling and Current Status
Her NEET score was later adjusted to 700 after a Supreme Court-appointed committee reviewed one of the test questions. Despite this minor reduction, her NEET performance remains exceptional. However, her failure to pass the Class XII boards means she does not qualify for college admission, regardless of her NEET score.
Conclusion
This unusual case highlights significant discrepancies between standardized national testing and state-level board exams, raising questions about the evaluation processes and the credibility of such assessments. As calls for an investigation grow, the situation underscores the need for transparency and fairness in educational evaluations.
