New Delhi, Mar 17 (IANS): Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday wrote to union HRD Minister Smriti Irani requesting her to "make an announcement to provide grace marks" to Class 12 CBSE students who are gripped with fear after a tough math exam.

In his letter, Sisodia -- who also holds the education portfolio -- said guardians of several students met him after the examination on March 14, complaining that it was the toughest math paper in the history of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Sisodia informed Irani that he has also received mails from hundreds of students and their guardians claiming that the math paper was very long and beyond the capability of a Class 12 student.

"Math is a high scoring subject, so the students keep expectations from this paper. Math is a very crucial subject for those students who want to obtain good passing marks in Class 12 examination in hope to get admission in a good college," Sisodia said in the letter.

He said the percentage of CBSE students will fall compared to students from other boards and it will affect the merit list during college admissions.

He said marks were important in examinations, but it is "our and your responsibility to get out the students from disappointment".

"I request you to make an announcement to provide grace marks in the math subject to the students so that they can come out of their disappointment and solve the remaining papers properly," Sisodia said.

He also requested Irani to conduct an inquiry over the allegation that the CBSE math question paper was leaked.