Big change coming: CISCE may allow 3 or more improvement papers for ICSE and ISC Board exams
With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocating flexibility in how students take their board examinations to lower the 'high-stakes' nature of these exams, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is considering offering students the option of writing more improvement papers beginning next year.
CISCE currently gives students in Classes 10 and 12 the option of writing improvement papers in two subjects if they are not satisfied with their performance. This is likely to be increased to at least three papers in 2026, followed by the possibility of more, an official said.
While the proposal is being considered, it is yet to go through the council's formal approval process, the official added.
The council's improvement exams are usually scheduled in July, and this timeline is expected to continue. The higher of the two marks will be considered final.
The board's Class 10 exam began on February 18 this year and continued till March 27, while the Class 12 exam began on February 13 and concluded on April 5.
An increase in the number of improvement papers offered is set to apply to students in both Classes 10 and 12, the official said.
Earlier this year, the CBSE announced a draft scheme to hold two board exams for Class 10 beginning in 2026, giving students the option of writing papers once or both times. The CBSE has proposed compressing the exam schedule, with students likely to get only a day or two between papers, in order to accommodate two sets of exams. According to the proposed schedule, the first set of exams will be held from February 17 to March 6, and the second set from May 5 to May 20.
On the possibility of CISCE offering two board exams, the official said it could be difficult for the council to accommodate two sets of papers, considering the academic schedule and the admissions students will have to focus on after their boards.
NEP 2020 states: 'To further eliminate the 'high-stakes' aspect of board exams, all students will be allowed to take board exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired… Boards may over time also develop further viable models of board exams that reduce pressure and the coaching culture. Some possibilities include: a system of annual/semester/modular board exams could be developed — that each test far less material, and are taken immediately after the corresponding course is taken in school — so that the pressure from exams is better dist
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