CBSE approves open-book assessments for Class 9 from 2026-27
Findings from the study revealed that students scored between 12% and 47%, with many facing challenges in effectively using reference materials and understanding interdisciplinary concepts. However, teachers remained optimistic about the system's potential to enhance higher-order thinking skills.To support smooth implementation, CBSE will provide a detailed framework, structured guidance, and standardised sample papers for open-book testing. Initially, the assessments are unlikely to be mandatory for all schools, allowing them flexibility in adoption.This is not the first time CBSE has experimented with such an approach. Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, it introduced the Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) for Classes 9 and 11, which was later discontinued after mixed responses from students and educators.Unlike traditional exams, open-book assessments allow students to consult textbooks and other approved resources during the test. The format is designed to evaluate conceptual understanding, analytical thinking, and the ability to apply knowledge in different contexts, marking a shift away from memorisation-focused learning.- EndsMust Watch
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Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Indian Express
Explained: CBSE's plan for open-book exams and what it means for students
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce open-book assessments (OBE) in Class 9 from 2026-27, after a pilot study showed strong 'teacher support' for the idea. The CBSE Governing Body cleared the plan in June. Held in November-December 2023, the pilot was conducted for English, Mathematics and Science in Classes 9 and 10, and for English, Mathematics and Biology in Classes 11 and 12. The move has put the spotlight on OBEs and the debate over their place in India's classrooms. An open-book exam allows students to use approved resources like textbooks, class notes, or other specified material during an assessment, rather than mainly testing memory. The challenge lies in knowing where to look, making sense of the material, and applying it to the problem at hand. In a science paper, for instance, the facts might be in front of you, but the real test is linking them together to reach a conclusion. These exams evaluate whether students can interpret ideas effectively, instead of just repeating them. Open-book exams have been around for decades. In fact, Hong Kong introduced them as early as 1953. A 2004 Hong Kong study by Ming-Yin Chan and Kwok-Wai Mui noted that 'first-time OBE takers viewed the format positively but prepared shallowly: students had a positive perception towards open-book examinations.' ('The use of open-book examinations to motivate students: a case study from Hong Kong') It found that many students spent only 10 to 15 minutes reading the questions and locating material, usually starting with the instructor's handouts before moving to one or two textbooks. Some condensed the lecturer's notes or borrowed 'worked-example' books to navigate the paper. Between 1951 and 1978, studies in the US and the UK allowed textbooks, notebooks and lecture notes in open-book trials. They used formats ranging from short answers to multiple-choice and essays across different university courses. 'The overall findings of these open-book exams were largely the same with a positive impact on internalization rather than memorisation… weaker students did better in open-book examinations and were found to measure different abilities from those measured in traditional examinations,' said a 2022 paper in the Towards Excellence journal by Mamta and Nitin Pillai. Despite early experiments, OBEs remain rare in high-stakes school exams. Most secondary boards and standardised tests — such as the UK's GCSEs or the US SATs — still require closed-book answers. The Covid-19 pandemic changed that temporarily. As universities shifted online, many introduced open-book, open-note or even open-web exams. Many students struggled initially — not because of the subject matter, but because they were familiar with the format. Not really. In 2014, CBSE launched the Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) to steer students away from rote learning. It applied to Class 9 for Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science, and to Class 11 final exams for subjects like Economics, Biology and Geography. Students were given reference material four months in advance. But by 2017-18, CBSE dropped the initiative, concluding it had not succeeded in developing the 'critical abilities' it was meant to promote. Open-book formats have a stronger presence in collegiate education. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved their use in engineering colleges in 2019 after an expert panel's recommendation. During the pandemic, Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University used OBEs, while IIT Delhi, IIT Indore and IIT Bombay ran them online. Delhi University's first OBE took place in August 2020; the last was in March 2022. The university returned to physical exams in January 2022 but allowed one more round for students admitted in November 2021. More recently, Kerala's higher education reforms commission has proposed using the format only for internal or practical exams. A Norwegian study published in 2000 reported that students taking OBEs were more likely to look for connections between ideas instead of just recalling facts ('Open-Book Assessment: A Contribution to Improved Learning by Tor Vidar Eilertsen and Odd Valdermo'). The authors said the format pushed them to go beyond simply finding the right page in a book. At AIIMS Bhubaneswar, research found that medical students reported lower stress in OBE settings. In another India-based online pilot, published by Cambridge University Press and involving 98 students, 78.6% passed. Of the 55 who gave feedback, most described the format as 'stress-free,' though many pointed to patchy internet as a major drawback. At Delhi University, a study by Dhananjay Ashri and Bibhu P. Sahoo found students scored higher in OBEs, even without specific training in the skills the format demands. Research by Mamta and Nitin Pillai at Nirma University argued that real gains require specific training — teaching students how to break down a question, analyse concepts, and apply them, instead of merely looking up answers. The move is part of a larger shift in the way schools approach assessment. While the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not name open-book tests, it calls for moving away from rote memorisation and towards competency-based learning. The goal is for students to grasp concepts, understand processes, and explain how they apply them. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCERT) makes a similar point. It notes that current assessments, at best, 'measure rote learning' and, at worst, 'create fear.' To change that, it calls for exam formats that can work for different learning styles and give students feedback, while still aiming to improve overall learning outcomes.
NDTV
14 hours ago
- NDTV
New York School Targets AI Cheating With In-Class Handwritten Essays
A prestigious high school in Queens, New York, is cracking down on artificial intelligence use in assignments - by banning typed summer essays. Townsend Harris High School will now require students to write their summer reading essays by hand in class during the first weeks of September, instead of typing them at home, according to a report in New York Post. The move is designed to stop students from using AI tools like ChatGPT, which the school says can be used to cheat. 'We've noticed too much use of artificial intelligence in the past and think in-class will allow for a more authentic representation of student thinking,' English teacher Brian Sweeney told The Classic, the school's student newspaper. The change has sparked debate on campus. Some students say it is unfair to penalise everyone for the misuse by a few. 'I think it's unfair that we are being held accountable for other students misusing AI,' one student told The Classic, while others worry it will disadvantage those who struggle to write quickly. But the policy also has supporters. Yasmeen Ismail, a junior and co-editor of The Classic, called it 'a reasonable first step.' Ryan Chen, a senior and fellow co-editor, said it 'heavily encourages students to physically read the book cover-to-cover instead of using AI to give them a summary and an analysis in minutes.' The school's move reflects a growing push in education to preserve original student work in an era of increasingly accessible AI tools. However, many students feel unsure about the rules, which differ by school or even by teacher. Scheherazade Schonfeld, a student at Hunter College High School in NYC, said, "It feels almost competitive, like not using AI puts you at a disadvantage." New York City's Department of Education has lifted its ban on ChatGPT but is still creating clear policies. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to train teachers on how to use AI responsibly in classrooms. Experts have mixed views. Punya Mishra from Arizona State University thinks schools should teach students how to use AI wisely rather than ban it. But tutoring expert Frances Kweller says Townsend's move is an essential step.
Economic Times
15 hours ago
- Economic Times
CBSE to introduce 'Bharatiya Ganit Parampara' to document India's contributions to mathematics
Synopsis The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to create a comprehensive monograph, "Bharatiya Ganit Parampara," to showcase India's significant contributions to mathematics across various periods. This 150-175 page document will feature key discoveries, innovations, original Sanskrit verses, and applications in fields like astronomy and architecture. It aims to integrate India's knowledge traditions into the curriculum. ANI CBSE The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has planned to develop a comprehensive monograph, "Bharatiya Ganit Parampara", to document India's immense contributions to the field of mathematics, officials told PTI. The "authoritative monograph", is set to be about 150-175 pages and will mention key mathematical discoveries and innovations from ancient, medieval, and modern India, the officials stated. The proposal received a green signal in the recent governing body meeting of the board. "The National Education Policy emphasises the integration of India's knowledge traditions in the curriculum and the development of culturally rooted and globally relevant learning materials. CBSE proposes to develop an authoritative monograph highlighting India's contributions to the field of mathematics," a senior board official told PTI. "The monograph will be developed through an academic partner or agency selected through an open process, and will later be made available both digitally and in print for schools, students and teachers," the official said. According to the official, it will also explore the application of Indian mathematics in fields such as astronomy and architecture. "The document will also include translated original Sanskrit shlokas and source references to authenticate the material," the official monograph will highlight important personalities, schools of thought, and texts such as the Sulba Sutras, Aryabhatiya, Brahmasphutasiddhanta, Lilavati, and contributions from the Kerala School of it will include translated original Sanskrit shlokas and source references to authenticate the material, besides featuring biographical notes, timelines, and illustrated examples for learner engagement."CBSE will form an expert advisory committee comprising historians of mathematics, Sanskrit scholars, mathematics educators, and academicians to guide the structure and content. Funds will be utilised from the Academic Unit's allocated budget for curriculum research and resource development or through specific approval from the competent authority," the official added.
