The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently introduced significant revisions to the assessment and evaluation framework for classes XI and XII, beginning from the academic year 2024-25. These alterations signify a deliberate effort to elevate the importance of competency-based questions in theoretical examinations, aiming to better prepare students for real-world applications of their knowledge.
As outlined in the circular disseminated by CBSE on April 3, there will be a discernible transformation in the structure of question papers for the year-end assessments in these classes. Notably, the proportion of competency-focused questions, encompassing formats like Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), case-based questions, source-based integrated questions, among others, will witness a substantial increase from 40 to 50 per cent. This strategic adjustment aims to evaluate students’ proficiency in applying conceptual understanding to practical scenarios, aligning with the principles of competency-based education espoused in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Conversely, the weightage assigned to constructed response questions, including short answer questions and long answer questions, will undergo a reduction from 40 to 30 per cent. This recalibration reflects a concerted effort to rebalance the assessment framework, emphasizing the cultivation of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which are paramount for students to thrive in the complexities of the 21st-century landscape.
While selective-type questions, particularly MCQs, will maintain their current weightage of 20 per cent, there will be a noticeable decrease in the overall contribution of constructed response questions to the final evaluation. This strategic realignment underscores CBSE’s commitment to fostering an educational environment that prioritizes holistic development and application-oriented learning.
At CBSE, the emphasis is on aligning assessment practices with the principles of NEP-2020, stressing the importance of fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills among students to equip them for the challenges of the 21st century. This strategic directive underscores CBSE’s proactive stance towards nurturing a generation of learners equipped with the requisite skills to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
It’s imperative to note that these revisions exclusively pertain to classes XI and XII, with no modifications to the examination format for classes IX and X. The circular underscores CBSE’s comprehensive approach towards implementing competency-based education, encompassing the development of robust resources tailored to the needs of both educators and learners.
In essence, CBSE’s decision to overhaul the assessment and evaluation framework for classes XI and XII signifies a paradigm shift towards competency-based education, reflecting a nuanced understanding of the evolving educational landscape and the imperative to equip students with skills that transcend traditional rote learning paradigms.
