CBSE board exams have always tested their students based on memory. Over the years, students have faced anxiety over exams, taking recourse to “coaching and cramming”. Following the directives of the National Education Policy 2020, CBSE plans to overhaul its assessment paradigm to focus on competency-based learning, analytical reasoning, and holistic evaluation.
What are the basic changes that CBSE has introduced?
The new exam structure will make 80% of the class Xth exams competency-driven, replacing the old pattern of rote memorisation. About 40% of the marks will come from ‘Higher Order Thinking skills (HOTS) – multiple choice items that test analysis and application, ‘another 40% from long and short answer questions designed to test conceptual understanding, and only 20% from factual recall.
Changes in exam frequency
In another major update, CBSE confirmed that it will introduce two board exams a year for Class 10 students starting in 2026. This dual-exam system, as recommended by the NEP 2020, aims to provide students with more flexibility and multiple opportunities to demonstrate their learning progress.
To support this shift, the CBSE has announced several reforms, including a 20% weightage for internal assessments and a plan to make two vocational subjects compulsory in classes 11 and 12.
Ways to adapt to changes in schools and for students
Thus, teachers need to focus on designing lessons that are no longer lecture-heavy, but rather encourage discussion, problem-solving, and experiential learning, making teacher training and infrastructure imperative.
Schools must also ensure 75% attendance to be eligible for boards, as well as implement enhanced security measures at exam centers. http://library.holyfamilykt.edu.hk/hfcskt/opac/
Inclusive education to support students with special needs and those balancing rigorous extracurricular schedules.
Following NEP’s 2020 vision, students will be assessed not only on their ability to recall facts but also on their capacity to understand, analyze, and apply knowledge in real-world contexts, through continuous evaluation, as well as foster critical thinking.