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The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), released by the Centre this week, has brought a change in the way board exams will be conducted from the next academic year. The new guidelines mandate teaching of three languages, including two Indian languages, in classes 9-10, and two languages, including one Indian language, in class 11-12.
Additionally, board exams of class 12 will be offered at least twice a year. Students can then appear for a board exam in subjects they have completed and feel ready for, and they will also be allowed to retain the best score. The government claims that this is to ensure students have enough time and opportunity to perform well.
While some teachers feel this will come as an opportunity, students believe this is “double the stress” and a move that was “not needed.”
The decision to conduct board exams twice a year reflects the much-needed shift in the evaluation methods in education. This student-centric approach will allow students to choose to sit for the exams when they are prepared to excel. The choice of attempts promotes genuine understanding and discourages the practice of memorising subjects just for the sake of appearing and passing the exams.
By adopting this change, students will embrace a proactive learning journey, cultivating critical thinking and analytical skills. We are excited to guide learners through this transformation, nurturing their intellectual growth and fostering a deep-rooted passion for knowledge.
The pressure on students due to exams has garnered significant attention and discussion in recent years. The pressure to perform well, meet parental expectations, and secure a spot in a competitive university creates an environment of immense stress. With the new change in the board exam pattern, students will find themselves grappling with a multitude of challenges that go beyond mere academic preparation.
As someone who was a part of the term 1 and 2 pattern of boards, this system would hamper students’ personal and interpersonal development and result in less time to spend with themselves which I believe is crucial for adolescents. We are constantly preparing for one exam after another — be it CUET, NEET, JEE, etc. — so the idea of multiple writing exams is tedious. Therefore, this new system is surely not needed. However, Class 11 and 12 students not being restricted to streams will be a welcome change.
For someone like me who is not well-read, this new system is very confusing. My son informed me that now he will have board exams twice a year. But, how will the syllabus be divided and how will the students be graded is not clear yet.
I did like that they are focusing on Indian languages, but making two languages compulsory will result in a hectic schedule of an already busy student. This will take all of the time of children, especially at an age which is meant for character and personality development.
The decision to conduct the board exams twice a year, as proposed in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, is to be welcomed. It will dilute the pressure of high-stakes final board exams and let students take the exam as soon as they are ready to take the test. They will be able to improve upon their performance in the second test or retain the best score out of the two exams. The decision provides students the flexibility to get best scores out of their school education in Class 10 and 12.
Deepanshu Singla, Class 12, Mount Abu Public School
The new reform will shift the exam system to bi-annual format which will offer students the flexibility to choose to appear for subjects they are prepared for, ultimately enhancing scores and knowledge retention. This modification holds the potential to ease rigid study routines and provide a chance for students to reattempt exams, promoting improvement.
Also, transitioning to a semester-based approach could alleviate curriculum burdens, enabling a more profound understanding of each subject. So, this was definitely a much needed action and it will definitely reduce our burden.
The new board exam system is a breath of fresh air for students. Twice the chances to ace the exams means half the stress. With more time to prepare, students can focus on their studies throughout the year and avoid cramming for a single exam at the end. This is a welcome change that will help students perform better and achieve their full potential.
