Class X students in dilemma over choosing right option in maths

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 31

As the registration process for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already commenced, indecisiveness to choose subjects continues among students, especially for Class 10 pupils.

Having already introduced some major changes in the usual pattern of Classes 10 and 12 board examinations, the CBSE has made it easier for students with a ‘maths phobia’ this year by providing two options. The students who are going to appear for Class 10 board exam next year can now opt for either ‘mathematics standard’ or ‘mathematics basic’. Students who don’t want to study mathematics further can appear for mathematics basic while mathematics standard is for those who want to keep the subject at a higher level.

In a list of FAQs issued by the board to its affiliated schools, it is mentioned that to reduce the difficulty level for students who do not want to pursue the subject further, the option of basic mathematics would help them fetch a good score. “The existing mathematics examination is the standard-level paper. Standard-level and basic-level question papers shall be based on the same syllabus. However, the standard-level mathematics assesses higher mathematical abilities as compared to the basic level,” reads the list.

Besides, to clarify whether the initiative would lead any dilution of syllabus, it has been explained that the idea behind the initiative was to make the evaluation more student-centric and reduce the pressure in students who do not want to go ahead with the subject in further classes.

There are many students who are perplexed over whether they should opt for standard or basic maths, as once opted, they can’t make any changes. Satwinder Singh, a teacher at MGN Public School, said the students would have to solve the question paper in the option that they select now. “However, if a student has registered for basic-level exam and intends to take mathematics in Classes 11 and 12, he has to appear for the standard level by appearing in its compartment exam after passing the basic-level exam,” he said.

There were 10-15 per cent students who were still making up their minds over choosing one of the options, he added. Meanwhile, the students having no interest in maths have been relieved with the development.