Post the announcement of the delay in Class 12 board exam schedule and cancellation of Class 10 board exam, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has initiated changes in the exam pattern of Class 9, 10, 11, and 12 exams for the academic session 2021-22. As per the proposed modifications, students will now be posed with more competency-based questions, and queries that test one’s application of concepts in practical and unfamiliar real-life situations.
CBSE Exams 2021 – What is competency-based education?
The competency-based education (CBE) plan helps in assessing the high-order skills of students such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity, encourages their learning and development, and discourages rote learning.
CBSE Exams 2021 – Things to know about the revised exam pattern for Classes 9 to 12
- For Classes 9 and 10 – There will be an introduction of a minimum of 30% competency-based questions which will be in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), case-based questions, source base integrated questions, etc. Further, 20% of the questions be objective-type. The remaining 50% of the question paper will include short and long answer type questions.
- For Classes 11 and 12 – 20% of the question will be competency-based, 20% objective-type, while the remaining 60% will be short and long type questions.
- Factors that remain unchanged – Students must note that no change has been introduced in the overall marks and duration of the examinations.
- Sample papers and syllabus – To get a better understanding of the newly introduced exam pattern, students can refer to sample papers and syllabus released by CBSE in March 2021.
- Changes in syllabus – In the year 2020, the syllabus of senior classes was reduced by 30% due to the hindrances caused by COVID-19. However, this year, the syllabus has been restored completely, as per the curriculum of 2021-22.
