CBSE exams 2021: Board might have an alternative for practicals if schools remain closed

Meanwhile, CBSE will introduce application-based questions in class 12 board exams from 2021. “There will be more case-study based questions wherein a paragraph will be given to students and they will have to answer questions after reading the paragraph. This will assess students on their reading, understanding, interpretation, and answer writing abilities and move away from the rot learning,” said Joseph Emmanuel, director, academics at CBSE These questions were limited to one-markers earlier, but now they can also translate into short or long questions. The CBSE has already released sample papers based on the new format. Emmanuel said, “This is a small step towards the vision of NEP. The real change will come when teachers will start teaching based on skill-oriented education and not marks oriented or exam-oriented studies.”

In the previous academic year, the board exams — which had to be postponed mid-way — were later cancelled and the results were announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme. There have been demands for postponement of board exams to May in view of the continued closure of schools and teaching-learning activities being completely online.