<p>I study in India, in a fairly competitive school. As far as class rank goes, I am definitely within the top 5 students. However, my average is only in the 80-90% range (it’s an A in India).</p>
<p>Which is more important?</p>
<p>Also - a question for Indians out there - what is shown in the HS transcript? Only each year’s final exam marks or marks for every exam you’ve written since 9th grade?</p>
<p>Class rank is more imprtant since it is an equalizing factor across schools.</p>
<p>@fuzzy: What about the 80-90%? Roughly, what does that work out to in the American GPA system?</p>
<p>The Transcript varies from school to school. At my school it shows the marks from each exam I’ve taken, so all 3 terms for each year for all 4 years. 
K’s written a complete description in the Indian Thread. Search for ‘transcript’ in that, and you’ll find a detailed answer that includes your grading concerns.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the percentages. The Adcoms know about our system. Don’t say it’s an A either, there really is no way to correlate as it varies to a huge degree from school to school, and even from class to class.</p>
<p>Found it…or rather found them.</p>
<p>K says that in ICSE, 90+ is an A and 80-89 is a B. Darn, is this true? <em>prays that it isn’t</em></p>
<p>My school’s report card says that 90+ is an A+ and 80-89 is an A, so in my case would an 80 be valued as an A?</p>
<p>Oops didn’t see your 2nd post Shrivats.</p>
<p>So how would an 80% look at an Ivy/Ivy-equivalent/top LAC?</p>
<p>Depends. Actually, a bit low, to be absolutely frank. But tetris, you shouldn’t worry yet. You’re only starting 10th. Wait for your board results, wait for your 11th grade results. You’re seriously starting this too, too early. Relax!</p>
<p>My situation was pretty similar to yours, I had mid-80s from 9 through 11 and had a 70% for my mid-term. My class rank was always among the top 3 though, mainly because my school was pretty harsh when it came to internal exams.</p>
<p>Don’t worry so much. Do well from now on and your 9th grade results won’t matter at all.</p>
<p>Thanks Lakshya!</p>
<p>Shrivats - so what should my goals for this year (10) be?</p>
<p>Your goals should be simple; enjoy yourself, take 10th grade just a little seriously, but not fanatically, learn to like and enjoy what you’re studying (for instance in 10th I found that I had a moderate fascination for the interworkings of the Indian judicial process and civics in general.) Be involved in activities and generally in your school.</p>
<p>Find something you love doing, (don’t you play tennis well?) and keep doing that. I don’t know, just do something, I spent a good deal of 10th devouring books, finishing PG Wodehouse, Archer, Clancy, Christie, Clark, Asimov and a bunch of others :).</p>
<p>I’ve got that in mind, K, but basically what I was asking for was an academic goal - where should my marks be? Let 9th grade be - mid 80’s - where should 10th grade marks be? Late 80’s? I can definitely try my best…</p>
<p>Oh yes and here’s the thing I wrote about the transcript for anyone who’s reading this and is interested: </p>
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</p>
<p>ICSE system? Well I can’t really tell you what to aim for since I don’t know your academic level, but I can advise that a 90 or above would be well within your capabilities. Don’t worry about your school grades that much as I don’t know how much grade deflation your school has; the board exam scores are what appear on your transcript anyway, and they are standardized. 90+ would be good; but grades form only one part of your application, an important part, but nonetheless, just one part.</p>
<p>90+ eh? Should be possible for math, all the sciences except chem - papers are devilish when it comes to chem, but I’ll aspire for an 80 - (computer science included) and geography. English - marking is unnaturally strict in my school - should be easily above 80. I think EVE also is an easy above-80. Hindi and History are the problems - my 1st term average was exactly 75 in both these subjects.</p>
<p>Grade deflation is very, very high. Class averages lie in the 50s/60s.</p>
<p>How does this sound?</p>
<p>I’m not talking about the school grades, that’s variable and understandable because of grade deflation; I’m saying that in the board, where grading is far more lenient and is standardized, a 90 should be something for you to aim at. :)</p>
<p>For that matter, I got a high 50, low 60 in Hindi in 9th and throughout 10th except for the board, where I got something in the mid 80s. Don’t worry about it, grading’s just that way in Indian schools.</p>
<p>OH, in the BOARDS I’m going for 95+! That is definitely possible!</p>
<p>I’m only worried about my 9th and 11th school grades - 85% would be good, considering the grade deflation!</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your school’s grade deflation; your rank and your school profile will take care of that. Colleges are familiar with grade deflation in the Indian system…</p>
<p>THAT’s what I was worried about :D.</p>
<p>So, just to confirm - the way I’m doing academically is alright, I just have to pump my marks up to 90+ in the Boards, and I’ll be fine?</p>
<p>yes /<em>fgdfgfgfd</em>/</p>