IITM BS Grade Cards: No Term-Wise Marksheets or Backlog Certificates

The IITM BS gives you one cumulative grade card, not a separate marksheet for each term. It does not issue backlog certificates, and it does not award any class, division or rank. These are official policies, set out in a letter from the Dean (Academic Courses) dated 14 June 2024. When a form asks for semester marksheets or a backlog certificate, upload your grade card together with that letter.

What the letter says

The letter is signed by Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras, with the reference F.No.Acad/Cert./2024. It covers all IIT Madras BS degree programmes, so it applies to Data Science (DS) and Electronic Systems (ES). On grade cards and related records, it says:

• The programmes issue only cumulative grade cards, which show the courses a student registered for and completed.
• As a matter of policy, term-wise grade cards are not issued.
• No class, division or rank is awarded at the end of the programme. For a percentage, the Senate formula is CGPA x 10.
• There is no provision for backlog certificates.

A note on the letter says IIT Madras does not issue personalised certificates. The letter itself is what you use. It can be downloaded from the DS important documents page and is also listed on the ES page.

What a cumulative grade card shows

The student handbooks describe the grade card. Each course at each level appears once, with your best result across all attempts. Your CGPA is worked out over all the unique courses you have completed, using the best grade for each. For how grades are given, see the IITM BS grading system.

The handbooks also list a term-wise progress card. It shows every course you took, term by term, with every attempt and grade. It is a separate record from the grade card, and the handbooks say both are made available automatically. The letter does not mention the progress card. So if a form insists on term details, you can offer the progress card along with the letter.

What a backlog certificate is, and why you cannot get one

Many colleges issue a backlog certificate that states how many papers a student failed or still has pending. The IITM BS has no such document. The letter says plainly that there is no provision for it.

Keep in mind how failed courses appear. The grade card shows only your best attempt, so a course you failed and later passed shows the pass. The progress card lists every attempt, including fails. If a form asks how many courses you failed, take the answer from your progress card, which has the full record. For the rules on retaking a course, see repeating a course in IITM BS.

What to submit when a form asks

If a form asks for a rank, write "Not applicable". If there is only one upload box, merge the letter and your grade card into one PDF.

When you need a signed document for a specific purpose, the handbooks list an official transcript and a bonafide certificate. Both are issued on request, every Thursday. The steps are in academic documents for IITM BS students.

What the letter does not say

• It does not say what any employer, exam body or university must accept. It only states IIT Madras policy.
• It does not describe the progress card or the official transcript.
• It does not offer any other way to certify that you have no backlogs. It only says backlog certificates are not issued.
• It gives no reason for the policy.

When someone insists

Some HR teams and college offices work from a fixed checklist. If they will not move ahead:

1. Reply in writing and attach the letter.
2. Point out the note that says no personalised certificates are issued, so the letter is the official answer.
3. Share the link to the official important documents page, so they can check the letter at the source.
4. If they still need something signed with your name, request an official transcript or bonafide certificate through the handbook process.

Common questions

Does my grade card show courses I failed?

No. The grade card lists each course once with your best result. The term-wise progress card is the record that shows every attempt, including fails.

Can I get a "no backlog" certificate if I never failed a course?

The letter says there is no provision for backlog certificates, and it makes no exception. Your grade card and progress card together show your full record.

How do I show my percentage on a form?

Multiply your CGPA by 10 and attach the letter. There are worked examples in IITM BS CGPA to percentage.

When do I get my grade card?

The handbooks say the grade card and the progress card are made available automatically, so you do not need to apply for them. For an official transcript, you apply separately.