Bengaluru: Only private candidates above 15 years can write SSLC exams

Bengaluru: Students should have completed 15 years of age to write this year’s Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam in private in the State.

Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB), the nodal agency that conducts this public exam has issued an order to this effect. The agency said private candidates appearing for the exam must have completed 15 years by March 1, 2020.

Candidates below the age of 15 years who have registered to write this year’s exam in private will not be allowed to write the exam this year and such candidates have been strictly warned from appearing for the exam.

In previous years, private candidates below 15 years were allowed to write the SSLC exam. However, this new age restriction will not be applicable to students in the normal stream.

In the wake of government relaxing the age limit for school admissions for standard 1 to 5 years 5 months from the earlier 5 years 10 months following the Right to Education (RTE) rules, KSEEB has revised the age limit for students appearing in private for the SSLC exam, sources said.

Sources also indicate that the new restriction on age will, The KSEEB has revised the age limit for the public exam to facilitate more number of private candidates from rural areas to access higher education, sources said.    

The question paper pattern and syllabus for the SSLC exam will be the same for both general and private candidates.