CBSE CCE Overview

By on December 19, 2009 in Notifications

In order to releive students from stress they were undergoing due to year end board examinations. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) which will help schools to evaluate students at school level itself. After introduction there were many genuine questions regarding the quality, authenticity and transparency matters, keeping such questions in mind CBSE has issued some FAQs regarding same. Please do find the Q&A format.

It is mentioned in the Circular that March 2011 Class X examination will be based on the syllabus published in 2011 Curriculum document. But nothing has been mentioned about question paper pattern. Please clarify

In the light of recent changes introduced under CCE scheme, the termwise details of syllabus and question paper pattern for March 2011 are being worked out. Please wait for some time.

If a candidate appearing in class-X Board Examination this year fails, will he/she have to appear in Board examination again or go alongwith the new scheme of optional Board examinations.

He/She will be dealt with under the existing Board Examination scheme only.

Sir, I have failed in Class XII non-medical stream examination held this year. As a private candidate, I want to change Computer Science to some other subject. What is the procedure?

As per existing examination rules, change of subject, as desired by you, is not allowed.

My son is studying in class XII in commerce stream. He wants to offer Economics as an additional sixth subject. The school authorities are not agreeing. What to do?

A candidate must have studied a subject for two years. So, according to rules, he is not eligible to offer a new subject at this stage.

It is being claimed that removing Class-X Board examination will reduce tension. Will it not be better to prepare the students to face tension and become stronger citizens?

It is certainly not advisable to put the students to excessive tension due to examination, particularly during impressionable age and stage. There are other better methods to motivate them for academic excellence. One of these is to create challenging tasks and situations for brighter students. Better learning takes place in a supportive and friendly environment than in a threat situation.

Sir, Parents prefer to admit their wards to CBSE affiliated schools instead to Kerala State Board schools mainly due to strong Curriculum framework and examination pattern of CBSE. Introduction of grading system by Kerala Board was not appreciated by the people. The new grading system introduced by CBSE may also meet the same fate.

Please go through the circulars carefully. These are available on CBSE website www.cbse.nic.in . There will neither be reduction in syllabus nor dilution in standard of examinations. The question papers designed by the Board will be used by the schools, The curriculum is being re-organised but not diluted. Grading system is certainly more sound.

Dear Sir, India is known for its tough but quality education. The recently introduced changes are likely to drastically lower the standard of education in India. Is it not a retrogradive step?

The curriculum at Secondary stage has been re-organised but certainly not diluted. The pattern and standard of question papers will be decided by the Board. How will then the standard of education be lowered? Please remember that the role and functions of a school are distinctly different from a coaching centre. It is a step taken after lot of country-wide consultations and the new scheme focuses on holistic development of the learner.

Being a parent, I have many apprehensions. Will the marking of answer sheets at school level not be subjective? Will the grading system not be demotivating for academically brilliant students? Should not the Board have obtained mandate from parents and students before introducing the Scheme?

The new scheme has been introduced after countrywide consultations and discussions and takes care of quality and standard of education. Don’t you think that purpose of school education is not only to award marks or grades but to develop a well groomed personality? This has been strongly recommended by many educational experts in the past. In order to ensure objectivity in marking of answer sheets at school level, the board is also developing marking schemes and organize more training programmes for the teachers.

The students getting 81 marks or 90mmarks will be warded same grade A 2 How is it justified?

Using grading system for assessment of students is educationally more sound than awarding numerical scores. Grading system takes care of imperfections in the tools and techniques used in the assessment presently.

If Board examinations are made optional, there will be no pressure on students due to external examinations. Will it not result in lowering of their academic achievements?

There will still be examination based on Board’s syllabus. The pattern and standard of question paper will also be decided by the Board. This will take care of levels of learning. There are other better methods of motivating and inspiring students to achieve more than pressure due to Board examination.

I am a class X student. The Board has introduced grading system from this year. Will it also be possible to know percentage marks of any student?

No. The statement of performance of every student will show only grades.

Will the Board be issuing any separate marks sheet to students appearing in March 2010 Class-X examination?

The Board will be issuing statement of performance of a student in terms of grades. A separate Class-X qualifying certificate will also be issued as per the past practice.

CBSE will be issuing only a statement of grades showing performance of a student in Class X examination this year. I wish to admit my son in another CBSE school in Class-XI should I ask for the numerical scores from the Board for this purpose? Or should he have to take the optional examination?

No, the admission will be based on the grades obtained by the student. All students, including students from the, second school, will be having grades as indicators of performance.

I am a Class X student. I want to know whether there will be any overall grading including all subjects? Should a student aspire to score a maximum of about 91 or 92 percent marks since this will correspond to the highest grade A 1.

No, there will be no overall grading. Remember, you should work hard for maximum learning and not only to get more marks or higher grades. A student getting 92 percent is not really worse than the one getting 100 percent marks.

For some entrance examinations, it is essential to indicate the marks obtained in Board examination as eligibility criterion. How will this be possible?

Entrance examination eligibility criterion generally requires marks obtained in class-XII Board examination. However, if any such situation arises, the actual marks obtained in Class-X examination can also be obtained form the Board through a separate request forwarded through the Principal of the School. In years to come, the eligibility criteria may also get modified in terms of grades.

Will the introduction of grading system not be demotivating for those students who aspire to compete of AIEEE, IIT-JEE, AIPMT or other competitive examinations?

Grading is being introduced at Class-X level and not at Class-XII level. Students aspiring for qualifying competitive examinations will have to prepare thoroughly right from lower classes and cannot afford to be casual at any stage.

I am a school psychologist. Is it fair to assess a child in areas like social skills and emotional skills for which there are hardly any inputs? Moreover, environmental factors play an important role in acquisition of these skills for which students cannot be held responsible.

As psychologist you will understand and appreciate that development of desired social skills and emotional skills are very important in one’s life. Once it has been made a part of assessment scheme, schools will certainly provide conducive environment and specific learning experiences to help the students acquire these skills. Schools are also being told about the same.

I understand that the academic year has been divided into two terms. Will the topics covered in first term be included in the second term examination?

No

Sir, will the March,2010 examination for Class-IX include the entire syllabus or part of it. Will the termwise syllabus be made available to us in advance for Class-X of the academic session 2010-11 ?

March, 2010 Class-IX examination will include only part of the syllabus. The related information is already available on CBSE website. Term-wise syllabus for Class-X for the next academic session has also been finalised and will be made available to schools shortly.

Sir, According to the circulars, there will be two Formative Assessments in every term. Our school has already conducted two unit tests alongwith assignments and practicals. Will the assessment of these tests have weightage under the new scheme?

Yes, Please read circular number 42 and Teachers’ manual. The formative assessments will include unit tests, project work, assignments, practical work etc.

My daughter is presently studying in Class-IX in a Senior Secondary School. Please let me know the assessment scheme to be followed in Class-X next year. Can she appear for the public examination in Class-X for self-interest? How can she choose her subjects in Class XI?

No, but she can take proficiency test if she wishes to assess herself externally. Class-X Assessment Scheme for her next year will be based on CCE Scheme which includes many facts of personality of the child without dilution in academic levels. Subjects in Class-XI can be chosen on the basis of CCE Card and aptitude test (if taken).

Ours is a Senior Secondary School in Ghaziabad, U.P. Every year, some students shift to other schools in Delhi in order to prepare better for competitive examinations. Can these students appear in class-X Board Examination which will facilitate their admission in the other schools?

No. All schools affiliated to CBSE will be honouring CCE Report Card issued by any other school for all purposes. Please remember that your admission in any other school will also depend on your actual academic brilliance than merely marks or grades. Other schools may also use aptitude test for admission purpose.

I am a parent and also a psychologist and interact with students and parents regularly. How can the Board ensure objectively in assessment in non-scholastic areas, particularly in case of personal biasing and partiality on the part of some teachers.

Assessment of students in co-scholastic areas will be done by a group of teachers and not by a single teacher. This will be taking care of your apprehensions. Moreover, parents can always approach the school Principal in case of any dissatisfaction.

Sir, The Board is talking about reducing stress of Class X students of Senior Secondary schools by abolishing the Board examinations. What about the stress on Class-X students of Secondary Schools? Is it not mere discrimination?

The Board has taken first step and will consider your observation and suggestion. There may be further modifications in the scheme in years to come.

It is good to know that steps have been initiated by the Board to improve performance of weak students. But about bright students who aspire to excel in academics and get admission in best colleges or professional institutions? It is suggested that the Board may also indicate the total aggregate marks of a student in the grade card which will facilitate his/her admission in a college.

It may be clearly understood that the grading system has been introduced only at secondary stage. Admission in colleges or professional institutions is done after senior Secondary stage where direct numerical scores are awarded. The new scheme does not lead to dilution in academic attainments. The curriculum is simply being re-designed and the examination pattern and standard will be taken care of by the Board.

Many teachers are involved in individual coaching and tuitions to their own students. How can the new scheme ensure that such teachers do not indulge in granting favours to such students?

Marking of answersheets will be done following a given marking scheme. Formative Assessment will be based on two or three different tools and techniques. This should minimize possible favours. Moreover, the answersheets will be given back to the students who can always approach the Principal in case of any doubts.

Assessment in co-scholastic areas will be done by a team of teachers instead of a single teacher.

How can the Board ensure transparency in assessment of students in co-scholastic areas under the new scheme of CCE?

Teachers, particularly those working in so called reputed or prestigious schools, will be pressurised to give higher grades, else they get different kinds of mental humiliation.

You suggestion for transparency is well taken and Board will initiate steps in that direction.

Assessment in co-scholastic areas will be done by a team of teachers instead of a single teacher. Parents also need to be sensitised about the relative merits of objective assessment of their wards in co-scholastic areas.

Sir, as a parent I have many apprehensions about the newly introduced CCE scheme such as:

  • a) Are all the teachers in schools professionally equipped to assess the student in co-scholastic areas in an unbiased and non-judgmental manner?
  • b) Some schools change their teachers frequently. How can the parents trust the assessment in co-scholastic areas in such schools?
  • c) Too much time of school calendar is consumed in teaching different topics in the syllabus. The teachers resort to giving assignments and projects to be done by the students after school hours in a mechanical manner. No time is devoted to discussions, debates, quizzes or providing additional inputs to weak or bright students. Even projects and assignment are done by the parents with the help of internet. How can this anomaly be taken care of. Please clarify?

Thank you for raising genuine concerns.

  • a) Efforts are on and will continue for organising desired teacher training programmes.
  • b) It is hoped that schools will understand the requirements of new scheme. Directions will also be issued to schools to minimise such a situation.
  • c) Many schools have been undertaking variety of desired activities successfully even before CCE scheme was introduced. They may have to re-design their schedule of activities to meet the requirements of CCE. Teachers will certainly have to think hard to plan curriculum in such a way that sufficient time is set aside for active and integrated learning experiences. Teacher Training programmes will address some of these issues.

I want to know the future of secondary schools. On what basis the students of these schools will get admission in other Boards? Will not the parents be little hesitant in putting their children in secondary schools?

Why should there be any apprehension about the future of secondary schools? Accordingly to the present scheme, there will be routine Board examination for students studying in these schools. Marks obtained by students in Board Examination will be used for admission in any other school. Besides, all schools will be honouring CCE cards. Even the other state Board’s of Education are being pursued to issue necessary directions to schools in this regard.

Your second apprehension does not appear to be true.

Will CCE be implemented only in Classes IX and X? Or in other classes also.

In all the classes upto Secondary Stage. The detailed guidelines for classes VI-VIII will be made available to all the schools shortly.