CBSE guidelines out, MCQ-based exams for Class 10 & 12 in 1st term

CBSE guidelines out, MCQ-based exams for Class 10 & 12 in 1st term

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:07.09.2021

Like engineering students, CBSE school students of Class 10 and 12 in Bhopal will have MCQ-based questions in the first term in November and December.

This is not a only a new experience but a radical shift from the usual pattern of evalutaion, keeping both students and teachers on their toes.

Schools have begun organising orientation classes to clear the doubts of students and parents. CBSE had issued comprehensive guidelines for schools to conduct the exams.

The paper will now have case-based MCQs and MCQs on assertion-reasoning type. The second one is the one that will need more effort to get used to. Learning by rote will not work. Unless one has clear knowledge of concepts, it is difficult to atempt assertion based questions.

The tests will be of 90-minute duration and cover only the rationalized syllabus of Term I only (around 50% of the entire syllabus) Exams will be conducted under the supervision of External Center Superintendents and Observers appointed by CBSE.

The responses of students will be captured on OMR sheets which, after scanning may be directly uploaded at CBSE portal or alternatively may be evaluated and marks obtained will be uploaded by the school the very same day. The final direction in this regard will be conveyed to schools. Marks of the term-1 will contribute to the final overall score of students.

“Preparing for MCQ is completely different from theoretical exam preparation. Due to fear of third wave of Covid, I am not able to attend classes. In such a situation, preparing for the exams is dicey,” said Prashant Mishra, a class 12 student. Teachers said there is a lot of uncertainty regarding academics. “CBSE guidelines itself suggest that anything could happen. Instead of focusing on academics, students and parents are spending more time on the scheme of the examinations,” said a teacher.