New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Schooling (CBSE) on Wednesday introduced the implementation of its coverage to conduct Class 10 board exams biannually ranging from 2026, with the primary obligatory examination in mid-February and an elective second examination in Could for college kids aiming to enhance their outcomes. The outcomes of the primary examinations will likely be declared in April and outcomes of second examinations will likely be declared in June.
This reform aligns with suggestions of the Nationwide Schooling Coverage (NEP) 2020, which emphasises lowering the ‘high-stakes’ nature of board exams.
CBSE’s February 25 draft proposed biannual exams for all 84 Class 10 topics, however the closing coverage limits this to a few topics out of 4 topics – science, arithmetic, social science, and languages. College students passing the primary CBSE Class 10 board examination can enhance scores in three topics within the second examination. Each the examinations will likely be carried out on the total syllabus meant for the 12 months and the scheme of examinations will stay the identical. Inside evaluation will likely be carried out solely as soon as earlier than the primary examinations, CBSE mentioned.
The nationwide board obtained over 1.5 lakh suggestions from stakeholders until March 9 on its draft coverage, CBSE examination controller Sanyam Bhardwaj informed HT.
“We obtained suggestions in a web based format. The suggestions reveals {that a} majority of 64.4% college students throughout the nation favored having two board exams in a 12 months. The lecturers had been a bit bit reluctant about examinations in Could resulting from extreme scorching climate and confirmed considerations about summer time holidays. Now we have knowledgeable the lecturers that we’ll be sure that we end the examinations on time,” he mentioned.
“The CBSE obtained suggestions that college students primarily search enchancment in science, social science, and arithmetic, as they sometimes rating increased in different topics and see no must retake these exams. We added the choice of sitting for examination of languages topics too,” he added.
These absent for 3 or extra topics within the first examination are ineligible for the second and will likely be positioned within the “Important Repeat” class, retaking the primary exams in February subsequent 12 months, in response to the CBSE coverage. “For college kids whose consequence within the first examination is compartment, such college students will likely be allowed to seem within the second examination beneath compartment class,” CBSE mentioned.
CBSE’s newest coverage on examinations has drawn combined reactions from lecturers and college students. Whereas a bit has appreciated the coverage, others have raised considerations in regards to the implementation
“CBSE’s resolution to carry Grade 10 board exams twice a 12 months is a daring step and takes the stress off college students, provides them a second shot to do higher, and builds their confidence. The elective Could examination is an effective way to help learners in reaching their potential. Nevertheless, pulling this off easily will want cautious planning to handle schedules and assets in order that the aim is achieved,” Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public College, Delhi.
A Delhi authorities instructor who teaches Class 10 college students mentioned – “CBSE is giving an extra alternative to college students who could not carry out effectively within the first foremost board examinations resulting from varied private causes. This may take away stress from the scholar.”
A Class 10 pupil learning at a Delhi-based personal faculty affiliated to CBSE mentioned, “It is going to be advantageous to college students to enhance our marks in case we miss to present our greatest within the first board examination.”
Sudha Acharya, principal of ITL Public College, Dwarka in Delhi mentioned that the brand new examination coverage will compromise studying days and have an effect on clean functioning of faculty. She additionally mentioned that it will influence the mental-health of scholars and lecturers.
“Conducting CBSE Class 10 exams from February to June will pressure lecturers with examination and analysis duties, disrupting the varsity’s tutorial calendar and compromising their summer time trip, probably affecting their psychological well being. Permitting rating enchancment in three topics could result in pupil complacency and elevated nervousness from extended examination preparation, regardless of the supposed flexibility. Alternatives needs to be restricted to college students failing two topics, dealing with medical emergencies, looking for rating enchancment, or representing the nation in sports activities. This coverage dangers selling a training tradition, and faculties with restricted workers could battle to mentor college students for the second examination in fast succession,” she mentioned.
In keeping with CBSE, whereas sports activities college students will likely be allowed to seem within the second examinations within the topics whose examinations have coincided with their sports activities occasion, the winter certain faculties’ college students could select to seem both in first examinations or second examinations in provided topics.
CBSE has mentioned that submitting of Listing of Candidates (LOC) – a compulsory course of for faculties to register eligible college students for board examinations – within the first examination will likely be obligatory.
“LOC for the second examinations will likely be crammed in individually. Nevertheless, no new names will likely be added to the LOC of the second examination,” CBSE mentioned.
Earlier in March, the Parliamentary standing committee on schooling, girls, youngsters, youth and sports activities really useful that the examination charges not be hiked for all college students, however solely for individuals who are giving an extra try within the board examinations. In its draft proposal, CBSE had said that examination price will likely be “enhanced and picked up for each examinations on the time of filling of LOC for the primary time which might be non-refundable if as soon as paid.”
College students’ foremost examination outcomes will likely be obtainable on DigiLocker for Class 11 admission in the event that they skip the second examination. Nevertheless, passing certificates will likely be issued after the second examination outcomes. Photocopy, verification, and re-evaluation companies will likely be provided solely after the second examination outcomes for each exams. College students failing the primary examination can provisionally be part of Class 11, with admission confirmed based mostly on second examination outcomes.
Over 26 lakhs college students are anticipated to register for sitting in CBSE class 10 board examinations.
Calling CBSE coverage “Laudable and a much-needed step,” Union schooling minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a publish on X mentioned, “This may scale back examination stress, present extra flexibility and foster joyful studying surroundings. A key advice of NEP 2020, twice-a-year exams is a student-centric strategy and in addition aligns with world schooling practices.”
“Getting ready college students for 2 board exams will likely be difficult for faculties. This may be difficult, particularly since exams will likely be held through the ongoing tutorial actions in faculties. Regardless of these challenges, we imagine the brand new coverage can profit college students by lowering exam-related stress. To beat burden on lecturers, we are going to present them coaching to adapt to new examination sample,” mentioned Anju Soni, principal, Shiv Nadar College, Noida.
