CBSE introduces changes in exam pattern

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13

With the Union Government’s participation in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) this time, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced changes to strengthen the assessment and evaluation practices of the board for the 2019-2020 session.

Dr Joseph Emmanuel, CBSE Director (Academics), in a letter to all heads of the CBSE-affiliated schools on March 6, stated: “The decision by the MHRD to participate in PISA in 2021 has given even more impetus to the requirement of aligning the board’s assessment system to future requirements.”

In 2021, schools run by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and schools in Chandigarh will participate in PISA.

Changes have been proposed for Classes IX to XII in internal assessment and year-end examination paper. Till now, for Classes IX and X, the 20-mark internal assessment used to comprise periodic pen-paper test, class work and subject enrichment consisting of aspects such as practical work for science; lab work for mathematics; map work for social science; and listening and speaking skills for languages.

According to the changes, multiple assessment strategies such as quizzes, oral test, concept map, exit cards and visual expression will be used in addition to the pen-paper tests. Instead of fetching five marks for class work, students will have to now maintain a portfolio (classwork plus peer assessment, self-assessment, achievements of a student, reflections, narrations, journals).

Compulsory internal assessment

For Classes XI and XII, there will be a compulsory portion of internal assessment/ project work/ practical in all subjects for at least 20 marks. So far, there used to be no internal assessment for subjects such as mathematics, languages, political science, and legal studies. The exam time allotted will be three hours for all subjects of 100/80/70 marks and two hours for papers with less than 70 marks theory. Minimum 25 per cent marks for objective-type questions, including multiple choice questions.