CBSE board exams now twice a year: Is May attempt mandatory? Who can appear? Key FAQs answered
Worried about getting low marks in the Board exams? Don't worry—CBSE has introduced a helpful option. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 students will now be required to take their board exams in February, but if they're not satisfied with their scores, they'll have the chance to retake the exam in May, the CBSE announced on Wednesday.
Explaining the rationale behind making the first phase mandatory for the students, CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said it is being done to ensure that students take the exams seriously and the sanctity of the board exams is maintained.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the norms for conducting board exams twice a year for Class 10, a move recommended in the new National Education Policy (NEP). "The first phase will be conducted in February and the second in May. The results for the two phases will be announced in April and June, respectively,' CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.
Yes. All Class 10 students must appear for the board exams in February as the primary attempt. Explaining the rationale behind making the first phase mandatory for the students, CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said it is being done to ensure that students take the exams seriously and the sanctity of the board exams is maintained, as reported by PTI.
No, the May exam is not mandatory. The second phase, scheduled in May, will be optional for students who wish to improve their performance. In case a student appears for both phases, the best score of the two will be retained.
"If a student does not appear for three or more subjects in the first examination, he or she will not be allowed to appear for the second exam. Such students will be placed in the 'Essential Repeat' category and can take the examination only next year in the main exam in February," CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said.
'Students whose results in the first examination are compartment will be allowed to appear in the second examination under the compartment category. Additional subjects will not be permitted after passing Class-10, students will not be allowed in stand-alone subjects,' he added.
Students can choose to improve their scores in up to three subjects from the following:
It is to be noted that sports students will be allowed to appear in the second phase in subjects which coincide with their sports events.
Both examinations will be conducted on the full syllabus meant for the year and the scheme of studies and scheme of examinations will remain the same. Internal assessment, however, will be conducted just once, before the main examination.
No. This policy is currently only for Class 10 students. It does not apply to Class 12 board exams.
Only the higher score obtained in a subject—whether from the February or the May attempt—will be recorded in the final marksheet, as per CBSE policy. The lower score will be disregarded.
If a student does not appear for three or more subjects in the first examination, he or she will not be allowed to appear for the second exam.
In the new setup, the second phase of exams will be conducted in May, and the results will be declared in June. Also, students can attempt to improve their scores in three subjects instead of two, CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.
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