Evaluating CBSE Class X, XII students in lieu of Board exams: All you need to know about assessment scheme

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has informed the Supreme Court that there will be no further exams for students of Class X this year. Rather, their academic performance this year will be evaluated on the basis of a CBSE-formulated Assessment Scheme.

As far as Class XII students are concerned, however, the CBSE states that an option to write the exams when the situation is conducive is provided in addition to the assessment scheme.

The results based on the assessment scheme would be declared by July 15.

If a Class XII student chooses to write the optional exam later, her final result would be based on the performance in the optional exam alone.

Both Class X and Class XII Board exams earlier scheduled to be conducted from July 1 to July 15 were cancelled this year by the CBSE on account of the rising number of COVID-19 cases. The decision was communicated to the Supreme Court on Thursday. The notification issued to this effect was accepted by the Supreme Court on Friday.

Further details regarding how the assessment of Class X and Class XII students would be conducted have been detailed in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court by the Controller of Exams, CBSE, legal news website BarandBench.com has reported.

The highlights of the affidavit include the following:

• It was decided on June 23 by the CBSE that it is not advisable or prudent to conduct the exam from July 1 to July 5 across the country as the health, safety and security of the children is the first priority.

• Exams for Classes X and XII scheduled from July 1 to July 15, 2020 are cancelled.

• Assessment in the subjects whose exams are not being conducted will be done based on the assessment scheme decided by CBSE for declaration of result for both class X and XII

• For Class XII students, CBSE will conduct the exams in the subjects for which exams were scheduled from July 1 to July 15 as soon as the conditions are conducive. All affected candidates, including candidates from foreign schools, will be given the option to appear in these exams. The marks obtained by a candidate in the proposed optional exams will be treated as final.

• For Class X students, no further exams will be conducted and the result declared by CBSE will be treated as final.

• For Class XII, the result declared by CBSE based on the assessment scheme shall be considered final, unless the student opts to write the exam that is conducted once the conditions are conducive.

The June 23 proposal outlined above was agreed to by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as well on June 24. Subsequently, a notification intimating the final decision was issued on June 25.

What does the Assessment Scheme propose?

• The assessment scheme referred to above, has been suggested by a "competent committee of the CBSE."

• For students who have completed all exams, results will be declared based on their performance in the exams.

• For students who have appeared in exams in more than 3 subjects, the average of the marks awarded in the subjects whose exams have not been conducted will be considered.

• For students who have appeared in exams in only 3 subjects, the average of marks obtained in the best two performing subjects will be awarded in the subjects whose exams have not been conducted.

• There are very few Class XII students who have appeared for exams  only in 1 or 2 subjects(mainly from Delhi). Their results will be declared based on performance in the appeared subjects and performance in internal/practice/project assessment. These students will also be allowed to appear in the optional exams to improve their performance, if they choose to. The results of these students will also be declared along with the results of other students.

The Assessment Scheme as outlined in the CBSE's notification

• The results of the assessment scheme will be declared by July 15 so that candidates can apply and seek admissions in higher education institutions in India and abroad based on the same.

• Class XII students whose marks have been declared in the assessment scheme will also be allowed to appear in optional exams to be conducted when the situation is more conducive, to improve their performance, if they wish to. The marks obtained in the optional exams will be treated as final for those who opt to take them.

• For Class X candidates, no further exams will be conducted and the result declared by the CBSE on the basis of the assessment scheme will be treated as final.