CBSE Set to Change Question paper Pattern from 2020 Board Exams

Vinod Kakumanu
Aug. 31, 2019, 9:31 a.m.

Central Board of Secondary Education has announced its intention to introduce changes in the pattern of the questions in the board exams 2020. There are a range of opinions emerging on the subject. Experts are of the opinion that the changes should not be limited to 9-12 class bracket, as stated by the CBSE and that the changes in pedagogy and teaching-learning need to be introduced from the very start. While these experts seem to endorse the changes being proposed, there are others who are taking it as a bid to unreasonably simplify the examinations which they feel will compromise the development of children’s capacity to withstand challenges in life.

CBSE has conveyed that the students are welcoming the initiative that will change the pattern of class 10 and class 12 board. The major changes consist the inclusion of 20 marks internal assessment or practicals for all the subjects, more choices of question to answer in the exams and introduction of multiple choice questions in the exams.

CBSE is of the view that the new pattern will make the assessment student –friendly, also the objective-type questions will encourage extensive study. Resultant reduction in the number of descriptive questions, it is said, will allow students more time to answer creatively without undue stress. As for the practicals and internal assessment, they will increase the class performance and engagement will the subject rather than rote learning.

There are other initiatives that are worth mentioning among which are introduction of two-level maths exam in class 10, starting 2020. The said two levels will include the existing one and one new easier syllabus which will be introduced as level 2.

The existing level will remain as Mathematics-Standard and the new easier level will be called Mathematics-Basic. The addition of the new level will enable the students failing the maths exam to select either one of the two levels to take their compartment exam in.

There are differing views on the judiciousness of the initiatives. Parents association chief, Delhi celebrated the move reasoning that as most of the competitive exams in India are MCQ-based, it is reasonable for the boards to have it the same way. The objective questions will be answered and evaluated more objectively. On the other hand, educations are of the view that this will defeat the purpose of the exams by making them too easy.

There are others who believe that the reforms only targeted at the students from class 9-12 is not the recipe for perfect education. They believe, improvement in teaching-learning pedagogy, conceptual learning for teachers, orientation for all stakeholders and regular steps are important.