If your university is following CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) but you don’t know what it actually means and how it works, then don’t worry you are not alone. We are here to help you. In this article, we will explain everything about CBCS.so let’s begin with a quick understanding of a choice-based credit system.
What is a Choice based credit system?
The Choice Based Credit System is a basic academic evaluation system. It helps students to select subjects on the basis of their interest. It provides flexibility to the students and allows them to build their courses as per their choice.
How to calculate CGPA in CBCS?
The CBCS system includes different grades for each subject, which affect their CGPA calculation. Let’s understand how it works with the help of some simple steps.
Step 1: Multiply Grade Point × Credit for Each Subject
Step 2: add Step:1 all answers
Step :3 Add All Semester Credits
Step 3: Divide the step 2 answer by the number of a semester.
Example of CGPA Calculation:
If you have the following scores in different subjects:
| Subject | Type | Grade | Grade Point | Credits |
| Mechanics | Core Course | A | 8 | 4 |
| Mathematics-I | Core Course | B+ | 7 | 4 |
| English | AECC | A+ | 9 | 2 |
| Environmental | Elective | B | 6 | 4 |
Step 1: Multiply Grade Point × Credit for Each Subject
| Mechanics = 8×4 =32 |
|---|
| Mathematics-I = 7×4=28 |
| English Communication = 9× 2=18 |
| Environmental Studies 6× 4=24 |
Step 2: Add all (Grade Point × Credit)
= 32 + 28 + 18 + 24 = 102
Step 3: Add All Credits = 4 + 4 + 2 + 4 = 14
Step 4: Calculate CGPA =102/14=7.29
What are the advantages of CBCS?
CBCS is mainly focused on student’s knowledge and skill. It provides many advantages to the student few of them are mentioned below.
Provides Flexibility: It provides flexibility to the students and helps them to choose subjects as per their interests and career goals.
Continuous Evaluation: it is based on continuous evaluation rather than a single exam. It evaluates student’s marks on the basis of assignments, quizzes, presentations, and internal marks.
Student Mobility: This system provides easy transferability of credit between different colleges at the time of transfer of college.
Skill Oriented Courses: CBCS has its core focus on skill and knowledge. In this system most of the courses are based on the skill and knowledge of the student.
Better Grading System: CBCS provides a better grading system and it provides a broader view of academic performance.
What are the disadvantages of CBCS?
CBCS is focused on students welfare still it has some disadvantage here we have some of them
Implementation Challenges: This system requires many resources and a huge staff. a small college can not arrange this much infrastructure or trained staff for CBCS.
Confusing for Students: CBCS puts too many choices in front of students and it confuses them and they end up taking inappropriate subjects.
Uneven Credit Load: Some students may pick tough elective subjects while others choose easy ones which makes it harder to compare their grades.
Frequent Assessments: Regular assessment increases pressure among students. It pressurizes students to perform well in each discipline.
Which types of courses are available in CBCS ?
- Core Courses (CC): Core courses are courses that are mandatory for particular subjects. These subjects are necessary for your degree for example Data Structures in a Computer Science Engineering
- Elective Courses: These courses are based on two major disciplines.
- Discipline-Specific Elective (DSE): These subjects are electives, but they are still related to your main subject, like artificial intelligence in B.tech, CSE.
- Generic Elective (GE): These elective subjects are not related to other disciplines, like a physics student taking a psychology course.
- Ability Enhancement Courses (AEC): These courses are developed to enhance the ability and skill of the student.
- Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC): It is mandatory for all students, These courses are based on English communication, environmental science, etc.
- Skill Enhancement Course (SEC): These courses are not compulsory courses; they are based on practical and job-oriented skills like photography, data entry, creative writing etc.
What are the key differences between CBCS and the traditional credit system?
| Feature | Choice based system | Traditional System |
| Type of evaluation system | It offers flexible course structure and allows students to design their journey by choosing from a wide variety of subjects. | The curriculum is rigid. They have fixed subjects and a predefined structure. |
| Course Selection | Students can select subjects as per their choice in Elective, Skill Enhancement, and Ability Enhancement courses depending on their interest and career goals. | Students can not no choose any subjects; all subjects are pre assigned and common for everyone in the program. |
| Credit Allocation | In this system each subject has their own specific credit value. It is based on the weight of the subject. | In this course Credits are uniform and fixed, offering no scope for credit selection or customization. |
| Interdisciplinary Learning | It Encourages multidisciplinary learning it means students can choose electives from different streams like a Physics student takes a Psychology as a elective | This system does not allow Interdisciplinary learning. students are restricted to subjects within their enrolled program. |
| Assessment System | It has continuous internal evaluation through various mediums like quiz, projects, assignments, class participation, and end semester exams. | It has the end of semester or annual exams for academic evaluation. |
| Grading Pattern | It has a 10-point CGPA for grading, converting marks into grades. | Generally this system has a marks or percentage based system, with less focus on performance over time. |
| Credit Transfer | It Enables easy credit transfer between institutions through initiatives like the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) under NEP 2020. | In this system Credit transfer is difficult especially between two different universities. |
| Skill Development | Includes (SEC) and (AEC) that focus on practical and communication skills, digital literacy, and more. | Focus remains mainly on theoretical knowledge with little emphasis on real-world skill development. |
Which one is better between CBCS and the traditional credit system?
The CBCS is a modern, student friendly concept whereas the traditional approach. Old school and teachers friendly approach CBCS offers flexibility to the students. it helps them to choose electives and skill based courses.
This system encourages continuous assessment through assignments, presentations, and internal tests, unlike the traditional method which depends mostly on final exams. CBCS also helps in interdisciplinary studies and allows the student to transfer their credit. It promotes creativity, practical learning and career oriented growth makes it a better choice among student.
