CBSE Rolls Back To Single-Exam Format For Class 10, Class 12 Board Examination: What Does This Mean?

According to recent sources from the Ministry of Education and news agencies, the education board Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to do away with its bifurcated boards format for classes 10th and 12th, starting the upcoming academic year.

It has decided to resort back to the pre-pandemic single-exam board format for the next academic year.

CBSE’s Decision on Resuming Pre-Pandemic Board Format

In the academic year 2021-22, CBSE had introduced a new format of board exams for classes 10th and 12th, as per which, in place of one board exam towards the end of the academic year, the students were to give exams bifurcated in two terms.

The term 1 exams were held in November-December 2021 and had 50% of the syllabus reduced by 30%. The second term exams are currently scheduled from April 26. More weightage will be given to the second term exams.

The decision was implemented for the ongoing academic year 2021-22, as the last academic year had to be cancelled due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“CBSE never announced that the two-term exam format will be continued henceforth. It was a one-time formula. Now that schools are functioning in full capacity, the decision, for now, is to stick to the one-time exam format,” said a CBSE official.

It is to be noted here that despite reinstating the single board structure of pre-pandemic times from the next academic year, the syllabus rationalisation will still continue to be held, meaning the syllabus will still be reduced by 30%.

“While the board exams for Grades X and XII will be continued, the existing system of board and entrance examinations shall be reformed to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes. To reverse these harmful effects of the current assessment system, board exams will be redesigned to encourage holistic development,” stated the National Education Policy.