CBSE 10th 12th Board Exams 2020: Paper Pattern, evaluation and assessment strategy

CBSE 10th 12th Board Exams 2020: Paper Pattern, evaluation and assessment strategy

                              

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a halt. CBSE has been working with NCERT on a new revised and reduced syllabus for the board exams 2021. The board has also pointed out the simple reduction of the syllabus is not enough. With COVID19 and closure of Schools, Education has been impacted to a large extent. Though online classes have started, there are considerable differences in in-classroom coaching and online classes. With this in mind, the board is expected to also make the following changes in class 10, 12 exams, including revised paper pattern, evaluation, and assessment strategy.

                                                   New CBSE Syllabus 2020-21

CBSE has recently released the syllabus for academic sessions 2020-21 (9th, 10th, 11th & 12th). Students are advised to keep the latest CBSE Syllabus 2020-21 with them and prepare for exams accordingly. Although there is a high probability that CBSE Syllabus might be reduced until then students are advised to follow the official syllabus.

NCERT alternative calendar contains all the guidelines required to be followed while students are studying online from home during the lockdown. 

Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE is expected to share a reduced syllabus with the various schools for Classes 9th to 12th soon. The new syllabus, officials have shared, is almost ready and would be shared with the respective schools soon. Furthermore, it is expected that the syllabus may be reduced by 25 to  33% for the 10th and 12th Board Exams 2021. However, complete chapters would not be removed. The paper pattern is also expected to be revised.

Topic-wise reduction of the non-essential parts from within the chapters would be done, so as to ensure that the ‘conceptual learning’ is not impacted. Inclusion of online assessment in terms is small tests, project-based and inter-group activities are being considered. Schools have also been advised to consider ‘Digital Labs’ and changing ‘practical’ to make it at home. No change in weightage of practical or internal marks was suggested. 

A blended approach to the curriculum taking online classes into consideration.

Guidelines for parents to be released to help them ‘accept online classes’

Better incorporation of life skills.

Focus on competency-based learning: mental, emotional, physical, academic. Schools have been advised to refer to CBSE initiatives issued.

CBSE may increase the MCQ part of the paper pattern further. In the previous year's plans shared by the board, CBSE had already suggested an increase in the MCQ section to cover about 20%. The board is likely to further increase the weight of MCQs. Some even suggested that the same may be increased to about 50% of the paper.

 While internal assessments conducted by schools, which comprise 20 marks for each subject, can be based on topics listed under the self-study mode, the topics taught by teachers could be included in the board examination syllabus.

 

             Will class 10th and 12th board exam cancel in 2020- 2021 session? 

To cope with the losses which students have to bear due to lockdown, educational institutions will bring somewhat different remedial measures. No, board exams will not be postponed to May. It will be conducted on 27 February as usual. 

There will be no delay and CBSE has announced that it is compulsory for students to have 75% attendance to appear for CBSE class 10th & 12th board exams in 2021. 

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, many CBSE School students are taking online classes via Zoom. But some students are not taking online classes seriously. 

Maybe there can be a cutoff in unnecessary holidays, or there can be an increase in the school hours to cover the prescribed syllabus.

This can recover the loss which the students have to bear during the lockdown but 2021 board exams will not be postponed.

Many measures, precautions, and hygiene will be taken off by schools before starting the academic year.

Sanitization and social distancing will be followed in schools which could restrict a few things like sports but rest will be fine.

There will be more internal choices in the CBSE Board exam 2021 in order to make the assessment student-friendly. Students will have objective type questions to make their work easier and less stressful.