The highly anticipated Higher Secondary Certificate (Class XII) results were finally declared on June 8. Many of you who gave the exam will be celebrating your result. Some of you, though, might be feeling you deserved a better score or that there may have been an error in the evaluation of your exam papers.

It is the right of every student to be evaluated as accurately as possible.

To ensure objectivity and transparency, most education boards prepare and supply a detailed marking scheme for the guidance of the examiners. If the answers are marked conscientiously and the examiners follow the marking scheme, the need for re-evaluation should not arise.

However, lapses may occur in some cases. This is when re-evaluation comes in. Re-evaluation should not be confused with retotalling. Re-evaluation means the reassessment of the papers, not just adding marks already awarded.

If you want to apply for re-evaluation, you need to approach your respective divisional education board by June 18 along with the prescribed fee. You can do this by getting a form called the 'application for verification of marks' from your college itself or from your state board office.

The form needs to be duly filled and sent to the divisional secretary of the State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education at the division office. For instance, Maharashtra has been divided into eight divisions (Pune, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nasik, Latur). The fee may be Rs 20 to Rs 40 per subject. The total amount has to be sent either by a demand draft by post or paid in cash at the office during office hours.

Your marks may not always be increased, but rarely are they decreased.

If your marks have not changed, a 'no change' response is sent back to the applicant. It is not advisable, however, to apply for re-evaluation unless you are sure of getting more marks. The process causes unnecessary delay in the admission process that follows.