Only 2 hours before exam, ISC Chemistry test postponed to March 21

The Chemistry Paper 1 (theory) for Class 12 of the Indian School Certificate (ISC), originally planned for Monday, as deferred by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), a mere two hours before the scheduled time. According to a circular released by the CISCE, the postponement was attributed to unforeseen circumstances, with the exam now slated for March 21.

Initially set to commence around 2 pm on Monday, the CISCE notified schools of the alteration approximately at 12 noon. However, the circular disseminated by the Council did not offer any specific elucidation for the postponement decision.

Sunita George, principal of the Bombay Scottish School, remarked, “Thanks to available technology and efficient communication channels between the council, schools, and parents, the alteration was smoothly communicated to students without any ambiguity.”

A comparable protocol was followed by a school in the western suburbs. Speaking anonymously, a school principal stated, “Such occurrences are exceedingly rare. Nevertheless, the Council has been proactive in communicating with schools nationwide. They have maintained stringent measures to ensure the smooth conduct of exams. It's plausible that a technical glitch or an oversight prompted the decision to postpone the paper.”

In Maharashtra alone, there are slightly over 60 schools offering the ISC curriculum. Last year, approximately 4200 students from across the state appeared for the ISC exam. This year, the examination commenced on February 12, with the final examination scheduled for April 3, 2024.