The Central Board of Secondary Education has come up with a new pattern for exams for classes 11 and 12, which would become more skills-based. The board’s primary aim is to revamp the assessment mechanism to bring it at par with modern-day education standards. This paradigm shift in policy showcases the board’s firm commitment to building and implementing a much more holistic assessment and evaluation system. This would help students much better to prepare for institutes of higher education and professional challenges in the emerging job marketPattern
Salient Features of Examination Pattern
1. Competency-Based Questions:
The new format places more emphasis on competency-based questions. Indeed, instead of rote learning, exams will test students’ understanding, application, and analysis. Such questions will force learners to apply this knowledge in real life, hence inspiring more profound learning and critical thinking.
2. More Internal Assessment:
The internal assessment marks have been increased by CBSE. This decision was taken in consideration of reducing high-stakes exam pressures and encouraging a continuous learning process. Now, under internal assessment, more marks will be added like project work, assignment, practical, and more to make it further inclusive. This strategy will go a long way in providing a fair evaluation of the student’s potential.
3. Reduced Syllabus:
Looking at the extensive disruptions in view of the Pandemic of COVID-19, the Central Board of Secondary Education is of the opinion that it has to shave off some parts from its syllabus for classes 11 and 12. The trimming of the syllabus is done to provide relief to the students by making the curriculum burden not so strenuous and to make the entire curriculum finishable within the given academic year. Trimmed Syllabus concentrated on crucial concepts and core subjects were given importance to ensure that despite the reduction in portions the students are given a strong education while being accommodating towards the disturbances caused by the pandemic.
4. Objective-Type Questions:
Another key change is in increasing the quantum of objective-type questions, MCQs. This view is in consideration of the fact that such questions will test the rote learning memory or instant recall of the learners. It is envisaged that a combination of subjective and objective questions would bring about a balance in the overall assessment process and cater to different learning styles.
Advantages of New Format
Holistic Learning Experience:
This new pattern of examinations is more likely to provide holistic learning experiences. With the inclusion of competency-based questions and practical assessment, it will help shed extra burdens of rote learning and get them more engaged with the subject matter. This shift is presumed to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
Stress Reduction:
Two very important initiatives toward the reduction of stress among students are the enhanced weightage for internal assessments and the reduction in the syllabus. Therefore, the system of evaluation will then be more balanced, and students would have more than one opportunity to exhibit their capabilities throughout the year and not just during the final exams.
Prepare for Future Better:
The new format of the examination is tailored to better equip students with the challenges of future academic and professional fields. By orienting the student more toward real-world applications with emphasis on critical thinking, he or she will be suitably equipped for the pressures of higher education and the modern workforce.
Implementation and Feedback
All these changes are already being implemented by CBSE in the current academic year itself. The board has also invited feedback from teachers, students, and parents to ensure a smooth transition with no hassles and also to iron out any hiccups that may arise. Responses have been overwhelmingly positive, as most sections have welcomed the decision to make the system of assessment more balanced and comprehensive.
In a nutshell, the new exam format for classes 11 and 12 is one step forward toward a more effective and integral evaluation system. Therefore, the overall effort CBSE is making in terms of competency-based learning, increasing internal assessments, and decreasing the syllabus is in the direction of creating a more balanced and less pressurizing academic environment, which would turn out students better prepared for the future.
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