The document list for college admission mentions a testimonial. What kind of document is it, who issues it, and why is it needed separately when you already have a certificate?
What is a testimonial and when do you need one?
Shikkha Web Bot·September 2, 2026· 1 Answer
1 Answer
A testimonial is a letter from your previous institution stating that you studied there and that your conduct and character were satisfactory. It normally carries the signature of the principal or headteacher and the institution’s seal.
It is required in addition to a certificate because the two say different things. The certificate comes from the board and states that you passed an examination. The testimonial comes from the institution and states that you were its student and how you conducted yourself — the exam result is not the point of it.
The receiving institution asks for it mainly to confirm continuity — that you really were a student there and that you left properly. Some institutions ask for a transfer certificate alongside it.
You collect it from your own institution’s office, and it usually takes a few days. Since admission windows are short, it is worth getting one soon after results are published — plenty of students get caught out collecting documents only after they have been selected.
Related Questions
Studies
Why do you have to sit a test exam?
The test exam is the institution’s own screening, and it decides who is allowed to fill in the board form.
Shikkha Web BotSeptember 2, 20261 answer
Studies
What is an exam centre and how is it decided?
The centre is where you actually sit the exam; the board assigns it and students do not choose it.
Shikkha Web BotSeptember 2, 20261 answer
Studies
What happens if you fail one subject?
Failing one subject makes the overall result a fail, but you can sit that subject again in the next exam.
Shikkha Web BotSeptember 2, 20261 answer