Various educational boards in India like CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations), and the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) award the matriculation certificates. Every state has its own state board that conducts state-level class 10 exams and issues matriculation certificates. Let us read more details about a matriculation certificate in this article.
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What is a Matriculation Certificate?
A matriculation certificate, popularly known as the ‘Secondary School Certificate,’ is given by the education department of respective states to candidates who successfully clear the class tenth board examinations. Each country has its respective standards and guidelines set by the government to conduct tenth standard examinations and examination policies. India conducts tenth grade examinations through ICSE/ CBSE and respective state boards.
The tenth class exams are a benchmark in a student’s life as it paves the way to pre-university, and the number of students who clear the tenth board exams is relatively less. This is seen in the lower number of enrolments in class 11 compared to class 10. Without specific reference to any particular career or academic course, the tenth class exams are an important milestone in a person’s life while looking into future opportunities and career prospects.
Many important courses set the class tenth marks as the eligibility criteria for selection, like ITI and related courses. Candidates who wish to apply for competitive exams later in their lives also need to submit their tenth grade sheet. Entry into diploma courses, class 11th, 12th, and pre-university education depend upon a student’s tenth marks.
We also provide information about certificates; explore different types under them specifically for academic, professional, and more.
Types of Matriculation Certificate
The government recognised educational boards award matriculation certificates to successful students. Common boards in India that issue matriculation certificates are as follows:
- CBSE [Central Board of Secondary Education]
- GISCE [ Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]
- IGCSE [International General Certificate of Secondary Education]
- State boards also conduct their own respective state exams.
- Goa – Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education [GBSHSE]
- Rajasthan – Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan [RBSE]
- Chhattisgarh- Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE)
- Odisha- Board of Secondary Education, Odisha (BSE Odisha)
- Himachal Pradesh- Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE)
- Meghalaya- Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE)
- Mizoram- Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE)
- Tripura- Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE)
- Maharashtra- Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE)
- Gujarat- Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB)
- Telangana- Telangana State Board of Secondary Education (TSBSE)
- Jharkhand- Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC)
- Assam- Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC)
- Kerala-Kerala Board of Public Examinations (KBPE)
- Uttarakhand- Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE)
- Uttar Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP)
- Manipur- Board of Secondary education, Manipur(BSEM)
- Karnataka-Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB)
- Jammu and Kashmir-Jammu and Kashmir State Board of Secondary Education (JKBOSE)
- Punjab- Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)
- Nagaland-Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE)
- Tamil Nadu- Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education (TNBSE)
- Bihar-Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB)
- West Bengal-West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE)
- Madhya Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE)
- Haryana-Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE)
- Andhra Pradesh- Board of Secondary Education of Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP)
Matriculation Certificate Grading System
Every board has its own way of the grading system for class 10. The system also depends on the candidate’s board since there are many boards in our country.
CBSE Grade System
CBSE inculcates the following grading system for Class 10 students:
| Grade | Criterion |
| A1 | Top 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| A2 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| B1 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| B2 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| C1 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| C2 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| D1 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| D2 | Next 1 out of 8 students who have passed in that subject |
| E | Students who have failed in theory/ practical or overall. |
ICSE Board Grade System
The ICSE board follows the below grading system. The ICSE board considers external and internal examination marks separately to award grades. In its official certificates, grades between 1 to 7 are officially recorded.
ICSE External Examination
The following table details the ICSE External Examination
| Grade | Interpretation |
| 1,2 | Very Good |
| 3, 4, 5 | Credit |
| 6, 7 | Pass |
| 8, 9 | Fail |
ICSE Internal Examination
The overall grading system in ICSE considers internal assessment/ examination as a very crucial part. The grades and their respective interpretations are detailed in the table given below
| Grade | Interpretation |
| A | Very Good |
| B | Good |
| C | Satisfactory |
| D | Fair |
| E | Fair |
Matriculation Certificate Subjects
While every board lays down its own stipulations, English is the standard language in practice for subjects like Maths, Science, and Social Science. Regional languages are an option.
CBSE Subjects
The CBSE board follows the below subject framework:
Compulsory Subjects
- Language 1
- Language 2
- Science
- Maths
- Social Science
Optional Subjects
- Skill based subjects
- Language 3
Subjects for Internal Assessment
- Health and Physical Education
- Art Education
ICSE Subjects
The ICSE board prescribes the following subjects:
Group 1 – Compulsory Subjects
- English
- Second languages ( All major Indian languages/ Modern foreign languages)
- History, Geography, and Civics
Group 2 – Any two under the following subjects can be chosen
- Agricultural Science
- Classical Languages
- Commercial Studies
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Environmental Science
- Mathematics
- Modern Foreign Language
- Science
- Technical Drawing
Group 3 – Any one of the following subjects given below
- Art
- Commercial Applications
- Computer Applications
- Cookery
- Economic applications
- Environmental Applications
- Fashion Designing
- Home Science
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education
- Technical Drawing Applications
- Yoga
Matriculation Certificate in Other Countries
The British were the first to coin the term ‘Matriculation’ in our country, and since then, it has been in use in India. After educational reforms in England, the country now practices the “O” pattern or Ordinary Level Examination in place of the earlier matriculation system. Students aged 15-16 years are generally known to clear the class 10 exams.
In different parts of the world, matriculation takes different names and forms. For instance, in Australia, the “Higher School Certificate” system is followed while Hong Kong awards the Certificate of Education Examinations and Nepal follows the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) system.
FAQs on Matriculation Certificate
1. What is a matriculation certificate?
Candidates who successfully clear their tenth board exams or tenth grade exams are generally awarded a matriculation certificate.
2. What is the meaning of matriculation certificates?
“Matriculation” in historic context refers to “qualifying or becoming eligible for enrolling at college/ university.”
3. What happens at matriculation?
Candidates are officially deemed to have cleared their tenth board exams and further admitted to colleges/ universities.