The Hidden Link: How Attendance Impacts Your Sessional Marks

As students, we often think our sessional (or internal) marks are based only on two things: our mid-term exam scores and our assignment submissions. While those are the biggest factors, there's a third, often hidden, element that can significantly boost your final score: **your attendance.**

This guide will break down the different ways, both direct and indirect, that simply showing up to class can make a big difference in your sessional marks.

The Direct Impact: Marks Awarded for Attendance

The most obvious connection is that some departments and lecturers allocate a portion of the sessional marks directly to attendance.

For many subjects, a portion of your sessional marks (often around 5 out of the total 30) is awarded based on your attendance percentage. This is the easiest way to secure marks—simply by being present, you are earning points towards your final grade.

[Your Edit Needed]: Is this true for your department? Can you add any specific details? For example, "In the CSE department, 5 marks are reserved for students with attendance above 90%..." Adding a specific detail here will make the article much more valuable.

The Indirect Impact: Faculty Perception and Internal Assessments

This is a subtle but powerful factor. Your professors and proctors notice who attends class regularly. A student who is present, attentive, and participates in class builds a positive reputation.

How does this help? When it comes to grading subjective assessments like lab work, presentations, or small assignments, a professor is more likely to give the benefit of the doubt on a borderline grade to a student they recognize and know is engaged. Consistent attendance shows you are serious about the subject, which can be a deciding factor in your favour.

The Academic Advantage: Not Missing Key Information

Beyond marks and perception, attending class gives you a clear academic advantage. In class, lecturers often:

• Drop hints about which topics are most important for the mid-term exams.
• Explain complex concepts that are hard to grasp from textbooks alone.
• Make important announcements about assignment deadlines or changes in the syllabus.

By being in the classroom, you gain access to this crucial information, which directly leads to better performance on the exams and assignments that make up the bulk of your sessional marks.

Conclusion: An Investment in Your Grades

Think of regular attendance not just as a rule to follow, but as a strategic investment in your sessional marks. It can earn you direct points, create a positive impression with faculty, and ensure you never miss the key information you need to succeed. It's one of the simplest and most effective ways to boost your academic performance.