This question clearly indicates the image people have about the attendance policy at BITS. 0% attendance requirement, if you are still unaware about it.
Now coming to the question. The number depends on so many factors that it would be impossible for any ordinary person to note down the stats keeping in mind each and every factor. Thus I can only answer this question as rough approximations using the little bit experience I have had during my one year here.
But first let me tell you the factors that drive the students to attend or miss classes.
- Marks : Yes, you read it right. Although, it is advertised that there is 0% attendance required for a course, it nowhere states that a teacher can’t keep attendance as an evaluation component (evil….eh? :P). Some courses keep 5–10% of total marks as tutorial attendance (lecture attendance is usually never considered). And you would find probably 95–100% attendance in a tutorial when there is a announced quiz.
- The Faculty : I have seen ninety or so students and more trying to catch a tutorial of a popular physics teacher in a crowded classroom (with capacity of 60–70) as well as 12 or 13 students attending a lecture of another faculty member in a lecture hall (with capacity of about 600!). Reason? The faculty teaching.
- The Course : Any student would prefer attending to a more weighted course (say with 4 credits) than to a less weighted course (say 1 credit). Because a good grade in heavier course affects your CGPA more than a good grade in lighter course.
- Time of the Semester : You would usually find highest attendance during the starting of the semester (because…you know…Naya naya josh) and probably least (maybe 10%) just before the exams. Just after exams also you get fairly good attendance (60 % or more probably…because tests were :’( )