Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently introduced some additional changes to classes 9 to 12 examinations for the academic session 2021-22. From the forthcoming academic session, students will find more competency-based questions. These are those questions which assess the application of concepts in real-life or unfamiliar situations for the question papers of classes 10 and 12 board exams and Classes 9 and 11 final examinations.
The board has initiated these changes in light of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Though the overall marks and duration of examination will remain unchanged, a greater number of competency-based questions or questions that assess the application of concepts in real-life will be a part of the question papers of forthcoming academic session.
For Classes 9 and 10 exams, the board has decided to introduce a minimum 30 per cent competency-based questions like Multiple Choice questions (MCQs), case-based questions, source base integrated questions, etc.
According to the existing pattern as provided by CBSE, about 20 percent of the questions are objective type and the remaining 50 per cent comprises of short and long answer type questions.
On the other hand for classes 11 and 12, the exam pattern to be followed is as follows: 20 percent competency-based questions, 20 percent objective type questions, and the remaining 60 percent will be short and long answer type questions. Students must note that the
Biswajit Saha, director, Training and Skill Development, CBSE in an interview with Indian Express said that “The pandemic has exposed the education system to change its traditional method. The board is trying to shift the focus from assessment of learning to assessment for learning. Furthermore, it is ensured that the students are equipped with the ability to solve problems and assessment must shift from testing primarily rote memorisation skills to one that is more formative which is more competency-based, promotes learning and development for our students, and tests higher-order skills.”
According to the order released, all the schools affiliated with CBSE have been asked to prepare the students with regards to the defined changes. The board in the coming days will also release Sample Papers as per the changed assessment scheme so that students can have a better understanding of it.
Check Official Notification Below.
Last year, the board reduced the syllabus for classes 9 to 12 by 30 per cent to make up for the academic loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As far as the curriculum for 2021-22 is concerned, those deleted chapters have been restored now.
CBSE earlier also announced cancellation of class 10th board exams 2021 and students will be passed based on the objective criterion to be decided by the board later on. Meanwhile, class 12th exams have been postponed till the end of May and the new date sheet will be released for the students once the situation pertaining to COVID-19 improves across the country.
