Thread by @Meetasengupta

Thread on marks and exams, now that the results are out:
Marks matter only because they are a short cut to the next step of admissions to college. Till the system improves, marks can purchase entry. This matters only to those who are totally focused on one choice 1/

Most students would have a range of options, even be happily confused about their goals in life at this young age. The marks shortcut to next step is not necessarily their path to success. 2/

Unless obsessively conditioned by parents, peers or society, students will be able to achieve their life goals through one of various pathways. The high marks shortcut is not the only way. Our job as adults is to help them identify multiple pathways to happy lives 3/

Good marks must be celebrated of course - they are proof of dedication, ability to stay on task whether you like it or not, of goal orientation. Good marks are not necessarily proof of employability, decision making or wisdom. 4/

A perfect score does not indicate a perfect life...
Here's some more on why high marks occur these days, but do not prepare students for college /www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/our-exams-dont-test-knowledge-do-not-prepare-kids-for-college 5/

There is work to be done now, both for high marks and low marks. In both cases, one needs to bring the focus back to empathy, action, application and choice. Time to identify talent and potential - follow that, not marks. 6/

Only those who are totally lost need the crutch of high marks, because of the way our system is designed (read capacity constraint). Or those who are sure of their talents, and their talents lie in high demand subjects. 7/

Marks are not a judgement of your future or current abilities, since the exams test such a small part of what is needed at work, or even higher education. (I'll repeat the link /www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/our-exams-dont-test-knowledge-do-not-prepare-kids-for-college) 8

Think of your marks as the money you have in your wallet right now. It is not the whole of your resources, but it is what you have in hand right now. What's the best party you can have with this? Or will you work towards a better party later? You have choices, find them. 9/

Finally, it's not about how much you have but what you did with it that counts. Not marks but actions. It is what you do now, in college, at work, in your society and networks that will make up your life and success. Your task is to make it better, find another way. 10//