The governing body of CBSE has approved the restoring of Board-based Class X exams, paving the way for return of public exam at the end of the Secondary Education after seven years. The first exam will be conducted.It has been decided that the weightage division will be 80% Board based and 20% internal assessments.

The new scheme has two terms, but the pen paper test weightage will be now 90%, which includes the 80 marks of half yearly or yearly exam and 10 marks of the 20 marks set aside for periodic assessment in each term. 5 marks each have been allotted for note book submission and subject enrichment. Moreover, the entire syllabus has to be learned for the final board exam.

Schools will also have to issue uniform report cards that will carry logos of both CBSE and the school.

Benefits of the new exam pattern

First of all, the uniform exam system to be followed from Grade 6 will boost the confidence of students to face Grade 10 Board Exam. Those students who passed Grade 10 (under old CCE exam system) with flying colours are struggling even to get a pass mark at Plus 2 level. This was due to less emphasis on subject content and more emphasis on projects and activities in the CCE system. Due to more weightage on project marks, students moved away from reading, and devoted more time for activities. The CCE system produced many high scorers with a lack of subject knowledge.

Secondly, the new system will avoid the difficulties students face when they migrate from one school to another. CBSE has over 18,000 affiliated schools which follow different systems of assessment from class 6 to 9 in the CCE pattern and issue different kinds of report cards to their students. Due to disparities in the system, students from classes 6 to 9 face several problems whenever they migrate to another school. In the new scheme, it is mandatory to issue uniform report cards that will carry logos of both CBSE and the school.

Strategies to tackle the new exam pattern

First of all, the students should understand that, written test weightage is 90% (80% from final exam and 10% from internal exams). Moreover, students have to learn the entire topics. Therefore dedication to studies is imperative. Days are gone, when you collect marks from activities and group work. Students have to read the lessons thoroughly and look for extra reading materials for a comprehensive study.
Minimise the time spend for projects and activities. 90% of marks depend on written test and 5% for note book work. Only 5% is allotted for lesson related projects.
Be a voracious reader. Students have to develop reading habits which is the key to scoring high marks in the new pattern. When you read, note down important facts briefly
Maintain your notebooks:
Since 5 marks is awarded for notebooks, it is necessary to maintain the note books from the beginning of the academic year. Complete your notes on time.
Daily review :
To achieve higher grades in exam, it is imperative to learn the lessons taught in school on the same day itself.
Weekly review :
Review your notes, school work and other class materials over the weekend. Successful students review what they have learned over the weekend.
Read effectively :
Many students complain about lack of concentration while reading. Use the SQ3R method – Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review – to actively retain information. Just reading is not enough. First of all, have a bird’s eye view of the topic ie. overall review of the portion. Then form some questions about the topic, and read the portion to find out the answer for the questions. Reading loudly helps for easy memorization.
aske Notes :
Develop the habit of note taking during your class lecture and during home study. Write down the main points in an orderly manner. Note taking would help to increase memory and speedier revision.
Start at the beginning :
Many students learn at the eleventh hour ie. just before the exam.
Don’t forget the proverb :
“Slow and steady wins the race”. Start studying from the first day of school.
Being successful in school requires a high level of study skills. Students must first learn these skills, practice them and develop effective study habits in order to be successful. If you want to be a successful student with high grades in exam, the need of the hour is to change the whole system of learning. First of all, the key to becoming an effective student is learning how to study smarter, not harder.

Our Young Pre classroom is for ages. This age group is working on developing their fine and gross motor skills, that are gaining independence