The central board of secondary education has made changes in the exam pattern of the academic year 2021-22. Due to COVID-19, board exams have to be cancelled the previous year. CBSE decided to implement a new exam pattern to tackle such situations in the future.
The board exams for classes 10 and 12 will be conducted in two terms. The first term exams was held in November-December of 2021. The exam duration was 90 minutes and consisted of MCQ questions and covered 50 percent of the syllabus.
Are you looking for the simplest way to understand the latest format released by CBSE? Then continue reading further to learn more!
The second term examination will take place in April-May of the year 2022. The exam duration will be 2 hours. External supervisors and observers appointed by CBSE will monitor both term one and term two exams. The question paper will consist of both objective and subjective questions. The term two exams will cover the rest of 50 per cent of the syllabus. There has also been a special focus on internal assessment and project work.
Students of CBSE class 10 will have three periodic tests along with practicals. For class 12 students, there will be unit tests after every chapter. Additionally, there will be practicals and project work to access the students. Schools are required to maintain students’ data for all their internal assessments, practical, and project work.
Based on students’ performance in all the internal assessments, projects, practicals, and theory marks of both terms, the final overall score will be calculated.
| Table of Contents |
| Overview |
| Benefits of the new CBSE format |
| Understanding the new pattern |
| Impact of CBSE new pattern on International students |
| How the new pattern aims to provide an honest assessment |
| Conclusion |
| Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE new format |
Benefits of the new CBSE format
Some of the benefits of the new exam pattern are listed below:
- Before the start of the exam, students are given an additional five minutes to read the question paper. This will help students to settle down and understand the question paper properly.
- As the exams are divided into two terms with half the syllabus covered in each term, it becomes easier for students to learn the concepts better. Students will feel less pressure with less syllabus to cover in each term.
- There is also a change in the timings of the exam. All exams are scheduled to start at 11:30 am. This is a great step that will benefit all the students. There will be ample time for students to reach the centre. Students will also get precious time to discuss important topics before the exam. The new timings will also allow students to get proper sleep as they don’t have to wake up early and rush to the exam centres.
Have queries amidst understanding the pattern? Don’t forget to check the FAQs provided at the end where we have answered all your queries!
- Many students feel they will get more time to study for entrance exams like engineering and medical. Earlier, students have to prepare for the whole syllabus. However, with the new exam pattern, the students can easily prepare their entire syllabus as it is divided into two terms.
- There was a trend among students to study at the last minute when boards happened only once every year. Students were in the habit of selective study as limited questions were asked in exams. However, the new CBSE exam pattern has introduced new types of questions like MCQ and short answer questions where students need to understand the concepts.
- There are many incidents of suicide as students face a lot of stress and anxiety during exams time. The new pattern is designed to be student-friendly.
- As more focus is given to internal assessments and projects, it will help develop students’ personalities. Students will become more engaged in their studies through different innovative methods adopted by schools. This will lead to the overall growth of students.
Understanding the new pattern
With the implementation of a new pattern, students are advised to understand the exam pattern. This will help them to score well in the exam. Students must visit CBSE websites to find relevant study material as per the new pattern. As there are different questions types students should understand each question type clearly.
As you must have read in every topper’s interview, NCERT solution is also an essential component of your preparation. These are needed for conceptual clarity.
Impact of CBSE new pattern on International students
There are thousands of students who wish to study abroad. Applications to various foreign universities are made every year. The new change in the CBSE exam pattern will affect students who want to study abroad.
The applications to US universities are made from November, and their deadline is in January. The last date for the UK and Canada applications is also mid-January. Students now have to deal with board exams and their application process to foreign universities at the same time.
The application process takes time to write essays and fulfil other criteria. Students willing to study abroad need to be more careful and manage their time effectively, as it will be challenging this time.
Conclusion
The new pattern introduced by CBSE is beneficial for students, teachers, and everyone related to the education sector. The new exam pattern will help students to become technology-friendly and help them prepare for future exams. Students and teachers should make efforts to come forward and make this new initiative work smoothly. Proper implementation of this new pattern will help students grow mentally and physically.
Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE New Format
1. Do I need to solve boards sample papers?
Sample question papers help students identify the paper pattern and the type of questions that might be asked in examinations. It is highly recommended to solve the sample papers to help you prepare well and score well in your board exams.
2. Do I have to pass both theory and practical exams separately in class 12?
Passing marks in each theory subject is 33%. In subjects where practicals are also there, it is mandatory to score 33% in practicals apart from scoring 33% in theory exams. After scoring 33% in both practicals and theory, a student will pass in that particular subject.
3. How can one obtain a copy of their answer sheet for class 10 or 12?
Students who wish to get a copy of their answer sheet can do so by paying prescribed fees within the board’s limited time frame. For more details, candidates can check the website www.cbse.nic., at the time of declaration of results.
4. Will I be allowed to give board exams if I fail pre-board exams?
Schools conduct pre-boards to help prepare students for their board exams. Normally, students are not barred from giving the board exams if they fail in their pre-boards. However, as seen in the present covid time, pre-band marks were used to prepare the final results. So students need to take their pre-boards seriously.
5. What is the procedure for reappearing exams in classes 10 and 12?
Students who have failed in their class 10 or 12 boards can reappear on board exams as private candidates or regular students. They have to pay the required fees and fill out the reappear forms. For more details, candidates can check the website www.cbse.nic.in.
6. Will marks be deducted If I don’t write all the steps in the Mathematics class 12 exam?
Students are advised to write all the steps required to solve a particular question in the Mathematics examination. Often marks are assigned for various steps in the question, and if you miss one of those steps, you might lose marks. So it is advisable to solve your questions systematically by following all the steps to avoid losing any marks.
7. Will poor handwriting impact my performance in board exams?
Usually, poor handwriting does not affect performance. However, students should ensure that they write properly and neatly. Examiners checking the papers should be able to read your answers properly. If the examiner cannot understand what the student has written, in such cases, poor handwriting may affect performance. So it is always advisable to write clearly and neatly.
8. What important chapters must I study to score good marks in board exams?
Students should not rely on studying only important chapters as the exam pattern has changed now. Students should go through their syllabus and prepare accordingly.
9. How many marks will there be?
According to the new pattern, both terms will be of equal marks. So if the theory paper for term 1 is 40 marks, then term two will be 40 marks. Internal assessments will determine ten marks for both term one and term 2. So the total marks for the examination will be 100.
