The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations wants to hold improvement examinations for the ICSE and ISC candidates of the 2020 batch in November if the Covid-19 situation permits, a circular issued by council to the school heads said.

If the pandemic does not allow the tests to be held in November, they will be held along with next year’s ICSE and ISC exams.

For the compartmental exams, too, the council has taken a similar decision — they will be held in November, if possible, or with next year’s regular exams.

“The improvement examinations (for the ICSE/ISC 2020 candidates awarded imputed marks) may be held in November 2020, along with the Compartmental Examinations, subject to the condition being conducive or may otherwise be held along with the regular examinations for the Year 2021,” a circular issued to the heads of all schools by the council said.

The council this year had conducted the ICSE and ISC exams till March 18 and cancelled the remaining papers as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19. The council had formulated a scheme for assessing the examinees in the papers for which exams could not be held.

The council had also said that it would conduct a fresh examination two to three months after publishing the ICSE and ISC results for the students who wanted to improve their marks. The ICSE/ISC 2020 results were declared on July 15.

A student’s average marks in the best three papers and their marks in internal assessment, project work and practical in the pending papers were taken into account during the final assessment.

The council in its circular on Tuesday extended the last date for the schools to submit the list of the students who will appear in next year’s ICSE and ISC exams from August 31 to September 15.

The last date of registration of students of Classes IX and XI for appearing in the 2022 ICSE and ISC exams have been extended from August 31 to September 15.

The dates have been extended because many principals had been complaining to the council that the schools were closed and they had not been able to collect the necessary information from students. The schools are required to deposit fees to the council at the time of submitting the confirmation and registration forms.

Many schools have complained that a large number of students have not paid the tuition and other fees for several months.

“The Council has received several emails from heads of schools regarding the general difficulty being faced by them to collate information and make payments for the Confirmation and registration of candidates for the 2021 & 2022 ICSE/ISC Examinations due to unprecedented situation created by Covid 19 pandemic. In view of the present situation the council has decided to review its earlier stand and to extend the dates...” the council circular said.