Practical Examinations of Private Candidates

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released detailed guidelines for the conduct of practical examinations for private candidates for the academic year 2024-25. These guidelines are essential for students who fall under specific categories and need to appear for practical exams. Below is a comprehensive overview of the key points from the circular.

Categories of Private Students Eligible for Practical Examinations

The practical examinations are mandatory for the following categories of private students in Class XII:

1. Students of 2024 who have marks missing in practical subjects due to Repeat in Practical (RP), Repeat in Theory & Practical Both (RB), or Absent status.
2. Students of 2023 who have marks missing in practical subjects due to Repeat in Practical (RP), Repeat in Theory & Practical Both (RB), or Absent status.
3. Students of 2022 and before who have applied for full subjects in the Private Category for their respective practical subjects.

It is important to note that no Project Assessment or Internal Assessment will be conducted for subjects without a practical component. The marks for these assessments will be calculated pro-rata based on the theory exam marks obtained in the 2025 examination.

Key Guidelines for Conducting Practical Examinations

(A) Dates for Conduct of Practical Examinations

The practical examinations will be held from 15th February 2025 (Saturday) to 15th March 2025 (Saturday). Practical examinations for regular students are held in their schools only. But for private students, the practical exams will be help on their examination centers.

(B) Venue of Practical Examinations

The practical exams will be conducted at the same examination centers where the theory exams are held.

(C) Appointment of External Examiners

• External Examiners will be appointed by the Regional Directors/Officers for all Class XII students.
• Internal Examiners will be appointed by the center superintendent from the school’s own teachers. If teachers are not available in the examination center school, teachers from nearby schools will be appointed.

(D) Answer Books for Practical

Practical Answer Books supplied by the Regional Offices must be used for the exams. Examiners must ensure that all entries in the Practical Answer Books are completed carefully and correctly.

(E) Uploading of Marks

After the practical exams, centers are required to upload the marks of private students whose practicals have been conducted. The award lists must also be uploaded on the same day, following the procedures outlined in the SOPs and Guidelines for Conduct of Practical Examinations.

(F) Action by Students/Examinees

• Students must contact their examination centers with a copy of their Previous Result/Mark Sheet and  Admit Card for the 2025 examination.
• Students must note the date and time of their practical examination and report to the examination center on time.

(G) Action by Examination Centers

1. The Center Superintendent must prepare a list of all students requiring practical exams, organized by class and subject.
2. The Center Superintendent must contact the Regional Office in advance for the appointment of External Examiners.
3. External Examiners **cannot** be appointed by the Center Superintendent independently.
4. The date and time of practical exams should be fixed considering the availability of external examiners, the convenience of examinees, and the datasheet.
5. Students must be informed well in advance about the dates and times of their practical exams.
6. Regional Officers must be informed about the plan for conducting practical exams.

(H) Action by Regional Offices

1. Regional Offices must prepare a list of all students requiring practical exams, organized by center and subject.
2. Regional Offices must inform students about their pending practical exams.
3. External Examiners must be appointed well in advance.
4. Regional Offices must ensure the timely completion of practical exams, uploading of marks, and receipt of Practical Answer Books.
5. Regional Offices must ensure that all students’ marks are uploaded to the Board’s portal by the last date.

CBSE Sample Papers

Students preparing for CBSE board examinations as private candidates can download CBSE Sample Papers from the myCBSEguide app and website. These model question papers for board exams will surely help students score better in their exams.

Conclusion

These guidelines are crucial for the smooth conduct of practical examinations for private candidates. Students, examination centers, and regional offices must adhere to the instructions to ensure that the process is completed efficiently and on time.

For further details, students and centers can refer to the official CBSE circular or visit the CBSE website.