Board-based Class X exams from 2018

myCBSEguide App

Download the app to get CBSE Sample Papers 2024-25, NCERT Solutions (Revised), Most Important Questions, Previous Year Question Bank, Mock Tests, and Detailed Notes.

Install Now

CBSE has approved the proposal of board based class 10 examination from session 2017-2018. It means students sitting in class 10 exam in March 2017 will be the last batch of CCE. Those who are in class 9 this year will have to face the board exam. The detailed guidelines on implementation is yet to be issued. But  it has been decided that the weightage division will be 80% will be Board-based and 20% will be internal assessments.

Board-based Class X exams from 2018

The Governing Body, the highest decision making body of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), has approved the restoring of the board-based Class X exams on Tuesday, paving the way for return of the public exam at the end of the secondary education after seven years. The first exam will be conducted in March 2018.

Board exam is Compulsory for all

Since 2011, after the introduction of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in 2009, the Board made the Class X board exam optional, which means students studying in senior secondary schools had the option to sit for the school-based exam. CBSE conducted a survey among various stakeholders and the majority were in favour of the compulsory Class X public exam. Thereafter, the ministry of human resource development announced the rollback of the optional scheme of the present Class X exam system.

R K Chaturvedi, chairperson, CBSE

“It was a unanimous decision of the members of the GB on the matter. The matter was discussed threadbare and in principle it was decided to restore the exams scheme of pre-CCE period. A circular to the effect on details of the exams which will commence from 2018 will be shared with the schools soon. It will be 80% weightage for the Board based exam and 20% will be drawn from internal assessments,” said R K Chaturvedi, chairperson, CBSE.

Three language formula till Class X

The CBSE’s governing body also recommended that the three language formula be continued till Class X board examinations. This would mean that students studying Sanskrit currently till Class 8^th will have to continue the subject for another two years till Class X board examinations.

Under the National Education Policy, the three-language formula means students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English and, in non-Hindi-speaking states, they should learn Hindi along with the regional language and English.

However, a majority of the 18,000 affiliated institutions offer the mother tongue or Hindi, English and a foreign language such as German and Mandarin up to Class VIII. According to Governing Body (GB) members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, all schools will not only have to implement the three-language formula in letter and spirit, but also extend it up to Class X. A directive, with finer details and timing of implementation, will be issued to schools as soon as the move is ratified by the government.

The decision comes almost two years after the HRD Ministry, under Smriti Irani’s leadership, forced Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) to discontinue teaching of German as a third language in Classes VI to VIII on the ground that it violates the three-language formula. KVs were directed to replace it with Sanskrit or any modern Indian language. German is still taught, but as a hobby/additional language.

“The National Education Policy and NCERT’s National Curriculum Framework clearly suggest that the three-language formula should be implemented in secondary education and, hence, the decision is in line with that. Private schools currently offering foreign languages will have to treat it as a fourth language, but the three-language formula has to be followed strictly,” said a GB member, when asked about the rationale behind the move.

Eligibility Test for School Principals

CBSE’s governing body also resolved that principals of all CBSE schools will have to pass an eligibility test. “We’ve noticed that wives and relatives of the schools owner/owners end up becoming principals. That’s not the ideal qualification to head a school. So CBSE will design a test on the lines of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test for principals too which they have to pass,” said a GB member.

History of Class 10 Board Exam

The CBSE board examinations for Class X was scrapped in 2010 and students had an option to opt for school examinations from 2011. This was done under the current Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) meant to reduce pressure of board examinations on students.

After wider criticism over students not taking their studies seriously and that lack of board examinations was poorly reflecting the quality of education, the CBSE conducted a survey among various stakeholders and the majority were in favour of the compulsory Class X public examinations.

Thereafter, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoHRD) announced the rollback of the optional scheme of the present Class X examination system in October this year.

Class X Board exams were made optional in 2011 after educationists objected to the stress associated with it. This was replaced with Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation or CCE. Students, however, could opt for board exams if they wanted.

About 20 per cent of the students chose the Board exam in 2011 and 2012. This figure increased gradually after it was made clear that students who wanted to change their school Board after Class X would have to take exams. In 2016, more than 40 per cent students opted for the Board exams.

“The UPA government had expected that other state education boards will follow CBSE’s example, but that didn’t happen. Over the last few months, CBSE and HRD Ministry have met teachers and principals from across the country to get their feedback on Boards and CCE.

The overwhelming support was for the return of exams,” said a member. A meeting of about 300 school principals was held in Mata Sundari College last week to discuss the change and seek feedback.

Test Generator

Create question paper PDF and online tests with your own name & logo in minutes.

Create Now

myCBSEguide

Question Bank, Mock Tests, Exam Papers, NCERT Solutions, Sample Papers, Notes

Install Now