Why Skills Matter More Than Marks

Beyond CBSE Results 2025: Why Skills Will Matter More Than Marks

Introduction: A Moment of Celebration, A Deeper Reflection

The CBSE Class 10 and 12 results for 2025 are out, and once again, it’s celebration time. Proud parents, smiling students, and viral topper videos flood our screens. The nation applauds marks above 90%—and especially those breaching the 95%+ “elite” club. And rightly so—these kids have studied hard, followed the rules, and earned what they were told to achieve.

But, pause.

What happens after the celebration?

• Do these marks ensure clarity of career path?
• Do they equip the student for the rapidly shifting real world?
• Do they reflect what the student is truly good at?

This is not to discount their hard work—it’s to ask whether our system rewards the right kind of effort. When results become the only metric of success, we risk producing excellent test-takers, but lost individuals. Marks are temporary milestones. But mindset, skills, and direction shape the entire life journey.

The Numbers Behind the Cheer

• 24,000+ students in Class 12 scored above 95%
• 2 lakh+ students in Class 10 scored above 90%

On the surface, this appears to be a triumph of meritocracy. But let’s ask:

If everyone is a topper, who’s really standing out?

This surge in high marks indicates grade inflation—and the collapse of marks as a true differentiator. When 90% becomes average, the student is forced into an even tighter race, not just to succeed, but to stay relevant. And let’s not forget: the more standardized the competition, the more creative talent gets ignored.

We’re praising quantity over quality. Numbers over narrative.
When schools, parents, and students are all chasing percentile perfection, the human being inside the child is forgotten.

The Employability Disconnect: India’s Hidden Crisis

Here’s the darker side of the story.

• Only 1 in 4 MBAs in India is employable.
• Only 1 in 5 engineering graduates is job-ready.
• More than 50% of India’s youth by 2030 may lack the skills required for future jobs.

That means a large chunk of our “successful students” are entering the workforce underprepared and overwhelmed. Not because they’re not intelligent—but because they were taught to focus on marks, not skills.

They weren’t asked:

• What are your strengths?
• How do you solve problems?
• Can you lead a team, pitch an idea, or handle stress?

Instead, they were asked to write essays, memorise theorems, and fill OMR sheets.
And we wonder why so many graduates are anxious, unemployed, or underpaid.

Why Are We Failing Beyond Exams?

1. Marks Obsession: Society equates high marks with high worth. Children are told: “Score 95+, and you’ll have a great life.” But that’s not true.
2. Rigid Curriculum: What’s missing?
   • Financial literacy
   • Emotional intelligence
   • Mental health tools
   • Digital fluency
   • Design thinking
   • Problem-solving
   • Entrepreneurship
3. Uninformed Career Decisions: Based on family pressure, peer influence, or marks—not actual aptitude.
4. Disconnected from Industry: Board exam toppers often can’t write a professional email or solve real problems.

What Skills Do Employers Actually Want?

Top employers today ask:

• “Can you solve a client’s problem?”
• “Can you work in a team and communicate clearly?”
• “Can you think creatively?”

Most in-demand skills:

• Critical thinking
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Digital literacy
• Emotional intelligence
• Financial & entrepreneurial acumen

Growth Mindset > Exam Mindset

The “exam mindset” says:

• Don’t make mistakes
• Learn only what’s asked
• Study to avoid failure

The “growth mindset” says:

• Learn through challenges
• Ask questions beyond the book
• Fail, learn, adapt, grow

Fear is the real barrier—not failure.

And fear is deeply embedded in our current system. Fear of failure. Fear of being compared. Fear of being left behind.

We must change that.
We must raise creators, not competitors.

Real Stories: Skills Beat Scores

Consider:

• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – Not an IITian, but inspired generations through curiosity and commitment.
• PM Narendra Modi – From chaiwala to PM, thanks to communication and leadership.
• Ritesh Agarwal & Nikhil Kamath – Billionaire founders, without elite degrees

They bet on their strengths.
They built skills.
They won.

The Lesson: Play to your uniqueness—not the rat race.

What Parents & Teachers Must Do

✅ Normalize Alternative Careers:

Every child doesn’t need to become a doctor or bureaucrat. We need creators, coders, designers, athletes, analysts, marketers, and changemakers too.

✅ Start with Psychometric Testing:

Just like we do blood tests before prescribing medicine, we must understand a child’s psychology before suggesting careers.

Psychometric tests reveal:

• Interests
• Personality type
• Aptitude
• Work style

This gives clarity before chaos.

✅ Encourage Real-Life Exposure:

Let children explore internships, freelancing, volunteering, content creation, or starting side projects.
Let them fail. Let them reflect.
That’s how real confidence is built.

✅ Prioritize Mental Health:

Marks don’t matter if the mind is shattered.
Children today are anxious, distracted, overstimulated.
They need empathy, not just expectations.

The Premit Brothers Approach

At Premit Brothers, we believe clarity is the foundation of confidence. We don’t sell hope. We design transformation.

• Step 1: Psychometric Tests Understand personality, aptitude, interests, stress points. Step 2: Counseling & Coaching Discuss your roadmap. Break confusion. Create a plan. ️ Step 3: Custom Roadmap Based on strengths—not marks.
  Based on future—not fear.
  Based on mindset—not herd mentality. Whether a student scores 60% or 96%—they deserve to understand themselves before choosing their future.

          We don’t inspire. We REWIRE.

⚫ Final Thoughts: Celebrate Marks, But Prepare for Life

So yes, let’s celebrate the CBSE results. Let’s pat the kids on the back. They worked hard.

But let’s not stop there. let’s ask better questions:

• Are you self-aware?
• Do you know your true strengths?
• Are you choosing your future—or just following the crowd?

Marks fade. Mindset stays for life.

Want to know your strengths?
Want to build a roadmap with clarity?
Want your child to grow with confidence—not confusion?

Visit www.premitbrothers.com