education

NCF announced board exams twice a year; read why

Published on August 23, 2023

The two-board exams system is likely to return, with the Education Ministry saying that final board exams will be offered twice a year to allow students “time and opportunity.” It stated that they can take it when they are ready.

Board exams twice a year by NCF:

NCERT stated in the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education, 2023, that this will be made feasible by developing a “comprehensive test item bank” that can be utilised to design exams using appropriate software.

This will allow the transition to a system of on-demand examinations shortly, as envisioned in the NEP, it noted.

To reproduce learnt facts:

According to the existing board system, with only one exam every year, students do not have the opportunity to take it when they are ready, nor do they get a second chance if they do not pass the first time.

Concerning existing board exam problems, the NCF claims that they primarily focus on the “ability of students to reproduce learnt facts,” which is not what tests are intended for.

Further, NCF states on 2 board exams move:

“Because most exams primarily test rote memory, a very narrow range of Competencies is assessed.” “This provides an incomplete (at best) or incorrect (at worst) picture of student learning,” according to the NCF.

Instead, board exams should assess students’ achievement of curriculum competencies and provide a “valid and reliable picture of student performance,” according to the report.

According to the NCF, the board will establish and implement a fair and reliable testing approach and techniques for deciding competency achievements.