CBSE to return to one Board exam from session 2022-23, with reduced syllabus

For the 2021-22 academic year, the CBSE had introduced a bifurcated format with two terms: the Term-I board exams were held in November-December last year, while the Term-II exams are scheduled to start on April 26. It is learnt that more weightage will be given to the Term-II exams.

The decision was taken after the board exams for the 2020-21 academic year had to be cancelled due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Students were evaluated on their scores in previous exams, practical exams and internal assessments.

According to a senior official, the board decided to restore the single-exam pattern after receiving representations from schools. “CBSE never announced that the two-term exam format will be continued henceforth. It was a one-time formula. Now that schools are functioning in full capacity, the decision, for now, is to stick to the one-time exam format,” said the official.

However, in terms of syllabus rationalisation, CBSE will stick to the policy it followed over the last two years when syllabus was reduced by 30 per cent. “The NCERT will send us the details of rationalisation based on which an announcement will be made. Schools can teach the reduced syllabus using the existing books,” said the official.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 proposes that all students be allowed to take the board exams on up to two occasions in an academic year — “one main examination and one for improvement” to “eliminate the high stakes aspect of board exams”.

“While the board exams for Grades X and XII will be continued, the existing system of board and entrance examinations shall be reformed to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes. To reverse these harmful effects of the current assessment system, board exams will be redesigned to encourage holistic development,” states the NEP.