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CBSE Board Exams 2024- 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the class 10th and 12th board examinations for the academic year 2023-24 will begin on February 15, 2024. However, according to recent updates, students beginning their class 10th and 12th studies in the 2024-25 academic session will be the first batch to experience the newly introduced multiple-board format. The students will have the option of appearing for the (class 10 and 12 board) exams twice a year just like the Entrance Examination (Main).
In 2021, the CBSE introduced a two-term system during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Meanwhile, in October 2023, in an interview with the news agency PTI, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that appearing for class 10 and 12 board exams twice a year will not be mandatory for students and the option is being introduced to reduce stress caused by the fear of single opportunity. Furthermore, Pradhan said the issue of ‘dummy schools’ cannot be ignored and the time has come to have a serious discussion about it.
According to the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) announced by the Ministry of Education in August, board examinations will be held at least twice a year to ensure that students have enough time and opportunity to perform well. They will also get the option to retain the best score.
Going by the media reports, the first session of the 2025 board exams is likely to be conducted in November-December 2024, followed by the second session in February-March 2025. However, CBSE officials have not released any statement regarding this. The final results and merit list will be determined based on the better of the two scores obtained by the students. To know more, click here.
But are schools prepared to conduct board examinations twice a year? Or are there any advantages and disadvantages to conducting board examinations twice a year? Let’s hear from experts:-
Speaking on this, Anil Ahlawat, CEO of MTG Learning Media, “The decision to conduct board exams twice a year by the CBSE is a significant development for students. From an academic publisher’s background, I think this will provide students with an additional opportunity to ensure they give their best in the board exams. This format will also help to reduce the stress and pressure that students often face during the traditional annual board exams.” This decision will reduce the pressure on students and provide them with an additional opportunity to perform better just like JEE Main exams. To reduce stress further they have the choice to opt out of the second exam and focus on competitive exams, he further added.
Pratibha Sharma, Academic Director of Bhai Parmanand Vidya Mandir, said, “The introduction of biannual board exams by CBSE for Class 10 and 12 signifies a positive stride towards student-centric evaluation. One notable advantage is the provision for students to rectify shortcomings and enhance their understanding through a second attempt. This not only reduces the burden of a single high-stakes examination but also encourages a culture of continual learning. The move aligns with international best practices, promoting a more comprehensive assessment model. However, challenges such as increased stress levels and the need for robust logistical arrangements should not be overlooked.”
According to Yashmin PRT Teacher( English), YBN Public school, CBSE’s decision to conduct board exams twice a year from 2024-25 aims to provide students with more chances for success. However, it raises concerns about increased stress and a focus on exam-specific preparation rather than holistic learning. Striking a balance between assessment frequency and meaningful education is crucial to ensure students benefit from the system without being overwhelmed by a constant exam burden. The focus should be on fostering a conducive learning environment that encourages understanding rather than merely chasing scores”.
Pranay Chouhan, the Co-Founder of Padhle, a leading K-12 EdTech Platform, said, “The decision to conduct board exams twice a year has both potential benefits and challenges. On the positive side, students will no longer have to study the full year’s worth of syllabus in one go; instead, they will be able to focus on a small portion of the syllabus for each examination. It also means that students have to prepare for examinations 50-50% twice a year, which may seem like a lot of dedication and as well as stress. On the other hand, this change could reduce burden because students will not need to cram everything promptly before 1 or 2 months of the exam. They are able to revise a portion of the syllabus on a regular basis, which makes it easier for them to recall and grasp the subject matter. “However, the decision will encourage students to get high grades while also providing them with additional opportunities to study hard and show their potential. While under this new pattern, teachers have to provide students with the most effective learning materials, as well as strategies for creating a well-structured curriculum in preparation for the revised examination format, Mr. Chouhan further added.
Prabhat Kumar, PGT Physics, DPS Ranchi, said, “The decision by CBSE to conduct board exams twice a year starting from 2024-25 has both potential advantages and challenges for students. On the positive side, it provides students with an opportunity to improve their scores if they face challenges in the first attempt. It also aligns with the continuous assessment approach, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of a student’s performance throughout the academic year. However, this decision may also impose an additional preparation burden on students, as they need to be ready for exams more frequently. It could lead to heightened stress levels and a faster pace of learning, potentially affecting the depth of understanding and long-term retention of concepts.” Furthermore, he said that the effectiveness of this approach depends on the quality of exam preparation and evaluation processes. If not managed well, it might undermine the educational objectives by prioritizing exam-centric learning over a holistic understanding of subjects.
According to Ahlawat, “This is a huge change which will indeed have an impact on school management. Conducting exams and assessing papers twice a year will undoubtedly require a lot of time and resources. Schools may face the challenge of completing the syllabus on time and need more workforce to smoothly organize the two board exams. But it is essential to adapt to changes that benefit students and prioritize their well-being.”
How schools should plan to implement this decision?
“The implementation requires meticulous planning to ensure fairness and uniformity in question papers, preventing any disparities between the two exam sessions. While the biannual approach holds promise for a more nuanced evaluation, success hinges on effective execution and ongoing support mechanisms for students and educators alike,” Pratibha Sharma, Academic Director of Bhai Parmanand Vidya Mandir said.
The CBSE Class 10th board examination will be held from February 15 to March 13, 2024. Meanwhile, the class 12th board examination will be conducted from February 15 to April 2, 2024. For more details, candidates are advised to track the official website of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
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