CBSE to restore pre-Covid norms in its 2023 assessment plan

CBSE is determined to continue pre-Covid norms in next year's assessment plan. The board has also announced the date to conduct the CBSE Board exams 2023.

The Central Board of School Education is all set to follow its pre-Covid norms. Speculations are rife over Board’s plan to make changes to its next year’s assessment plan. The board is seriously thinking to resume its pre-Covid norms that were being followed before the pandemic hit the country. Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations told the media, As per July 5, 2021 circular, CBSE had decided to conduct the Board examinations in two terms in 2022 as a one-time measure owing to Covid and the extended school closures. With a return to normalcy, the Board will resume its practice of conducting the exam in an annual format. Barring 2021 when no Board exams were held, in all other years before 2021, the single format exam was held”.

CBSE Exam 2023 dates

The board has recently announced that the CBSE exams 2023 will be held from February 15, 2022. Bhardwaj emphasized that the exam date was announced to dispel the clouds of uncertainty among students and to bring the academic session back on track like the pre-pandemic era. “Till 2018, the exam used to be conducted on the first working day of March, but since it takes a minimum of 45 days to conduct the examinations of about 114 subjects of Class XII and 75 subjects of Class X, and thereafter 45 days to declare the results, students would not be privy to their performance before June as exams did not end before April,” He said.

Less Stress, More Certainty is the goal

While talking to the media, Bhardwaj also added, “To avoid inconvenience to the students as many higher education institutions in India and abroad required the results early, it was decided in 2019, to conduct the exams of the skill subjects from February 15 since there are less candidates taking the exams. The exams of the main subjects, on the other hand, would be conducted in March. This would enable the Board to declare the results in May. It would also help save time and ensure the commencement of the academic year as per schedule. Considering the fact that class X and XII students are already attending offline classes in 2022, there will be no curriculum overload by the time the Board exams start in February 2023,”

Board to continue giving Internal marks for practicals, projects

As per the Controller of Examinations, Sanyam Bhardwaj, the board will apply 20% internal assessment to all subjects including those that do not have practicals. This has been followed from 2019. The teachers will assess the students for a more realistic evaluation. This mode is all the more relevant in the current competency-based assessment system.

33% more choices of questions to be made available during the CBSE exams

The board is considering the need to provide wider choice of questions during the exams. The Controller of Examinations says that the board has taken the decision to 33% more choices of questions in the exam as it helps students reduce their stress. “Since these exams are not for professional courses but a part of the schooling system, it was decided in 2019, to provide 33% more choices. Also, in school assessments, not just students’ knowledge but also their writing, analytical, and thinking skills etc are to be assessed. This would give students a chance to perform better while bringing down their anxiety levels,” he adds.

Competency-based questions

In 2019, the Board decided to increase the competency-based questions by 10% every year. To provide sufficient time to the students of class XII, it was also decided that in 2019, 10% of competency-based questions be introduced only in class X. Accordingly, in 2020, it was increased to 20% in class X and 10% in class XII. In 2021, this criterion could not be implemented due to the exam cancellation, but in 2022, there were 30% competency-based questions in class X and 20% in class XII. In 2023, the figures would go up to 40% in class X and 30% in class XII. The aim is to have 50% competency-based questions for both classes by 2025. This decision is in keeping with NEP 2020 to ensure a shift from rote learning to a critical and more analytical learning system, Bhardwaj said.

Bhardwaj also added, “We are also utilising experts from the UK to update the knowledge and skills of our teachers to frame competency-based questions and to change the curriculum transaction in the classrooms. The overall aim is to bring our students at par with those of other countries to enhance their competency-based learning and help them perform better in professional and public life.”