Ask the CBSE

February 28, 2011 03:34 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 03:39 am IST

BE CLEAR: For Class X, questions from SA-I syllabus will not figure in SA-II. Photo: S.Subramanium

BE CLEAR: For Class X, questions from SA-I syllabus will not figure in SA-II. Photo: S.Subramanium

The Central Board of Secondary Education answers questions relating to its examinations from The Hindu's readers, primarily those relating to Class X and XII examinations. Answers to select questions have been published in these columns in the past few weeks. The purpose of this series is also to help reduce examination-related stress in students. With this instalment, the series concludes.

Are there different certificates in Class X for Board-conducted and school-conducted exams?

Arunima S J (sjarunima@gmail.com)

The School-based Evaluation Certificate to be issued by the Board will be same for all the students appearing for Summative Examination II of Class X conducted by the School or by the Board.

I am a Class X student. a) Will the timetable for the school-conducted SA-II and Board-conducted SA-II be the same? Can the school frame its own timetable for the school-conducted SA-II?

The timetable for school-conducted and Board-conducted SA-II need not be the same. The date sheet for Board-conducted Summative Examination II is already announced and posted on the Board's website. As per the Circular No. 5/ 2011 issued by the CBSE, the schools will conduct the SA-II for Class-X during the second half of March, 2011. They have also been asked to ensure that in the case of Summative Assessment-II for Class X, the dates for the subjects of English (Communicative/Language & Literature) and Science are kept after March 23, 2011.

Schools will have the freedom to frame their own timetable within a period of time specified by the Board.

b) Will there be questions from SA-I portions for SA-II exams?

No; questions from SA-I syllabus will not figure in SA-II.

c) Can I change my school if I have opted for school-conducted SA-II?

You can change your school if you have opted for school-Conducted SA-II for admission to Class XI based on your performance and the admission policy decided by the school.

d) Please provide details on weightage to MCQs (multiple choice questions) in English.

Mohamed Waleed

Weightage to MCQs

English Communicative

Reading Section: 10/20 marks

Grammar Section: 8/20 marks

Literature Section: 3/20 marks

English Language & Literature

Reading Section: 10/15 marks

Grammar Section: 6/15 marks

Literature Section: 6/35 marks

I am in Class XII. Will logarithm table be provided at the exam hall for Physics and Chemistry exams?

Kevin Jerome

For Physics and Chemistry examinations, students are provided with logarithm table at the examination hall.

I am in Class IX. Where do I find the syllabus for Assamese for Class IX on the CBSE website?

Panoy

Bifurcated syllabus for Assamese is available on the Board's website at the URL address: >http://www.cbse.nic.in/cce/syllab/assamese_class_ix_x.pdf.

I am in Class X and have opted for SA-II conducted by the Board. Do we have to study only text-type questions or any new-type questions that are not given in our Maths textbook? Will there be questions from ‘Optional Exercise'?

Akshara

For SA-II examination, whether conducted by Board or school, questions will be based on the Term II syllabus given as per Circular No. 12 of 2010 on CBSE website: www.cbse.nic.in. For types of questions, please see Sample Question Paper available on the Board's website.

My son is appearing for Board X exam. As there is more focus on CCE, there is a view that students do not have enough exposure to different types of questions in all subjects. a) On what will be the questions based?

The weightage of final examination (SA-II) being held in March is 40 per cent. Questions in SA-II will be based on the syllabus of different subjects prescribed for the second term only.

b) Will questions be asked from the info provided in the boxes in the textbooks?

The information provided in the boxes given in prescribed NCERT textbooks is to extend and deepen students' conceptual learning. Questions are generally not asked from them.

c) Will studying the NCERT textbook be sufficient?

The question paper in Summative Examination II will be based on the syllabus and the textbooks prescribed by the Board for the second term which have been provided on the CBSE website www.cbse.nic.in under Examinations Section. NCERT textbooks may please be referred to for this syllabus.

d) Can we have more sample papers?

You may request your subject teachers to provide you with more questions based on the samples given by the Board.

e) Can we get marksheets after results?

Thangavelu, Erode, Tamil Nadu

The school-based Assessment Certificate to be issued by the Board will only show the overall Grades obtained by a student in Summative and Formative Assessments (SA and FA) for Classes IX and X. Though grades are based on the marks obtained by students, marks will not be reflected in the Certificate issued by the Board.

Please provide chapter-wise mark distribution for Class XII science group (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology & English) 2011 examination.

Nikhil Joseph Mattam

Please refer to the Senior School Curriculum document, 2011 Examination for Chapter/Unit-wise marks distribution in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and for Examination specifications and distribution of marks to different areas of learning in English.

I am appearing for Class X Board exam. I would like to shift to State- board. How is my final score given? Will it include the weightage of FA-1, FA-2 and SA-1?

Abhiraman

The school-based Assessment Certificate to be issued by the Board will show the overall Grades for Classes IX and X based on the student's performance in Summative and Formative Assessments (SA and FA) during these classes.

Final grade in a class, say, Class X, will depend on your performance in all assessments, that is, FA1, FA2, FA 3, FA 4, SA 1 and SA 2.

I have the following queries with respect to Class X CCE and SA2.

a) In the report card format, it is seen that up to two subjects can be upgraded based on the grades obtained in Life skills, Attitudes and Values, Activity and Health & Physical Education. Please let me know how the subjects for upgrade will be chosen.

As per the Circular No. 10/ 10.02.2011 on Promotion Policy for Class IX under the scheme of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE), the benefit of upscaling the grade in different subjects may start from the subject in which a student obtains lowest grade followed by next higher grade.

b) The first term generally starts in April in most schools and SA1 exams are conducted in the second half of September. Accordingly, from April 1 to May 15 and from July 1 to September 14, the working months are four months for the first term. During this period FA1 and FA2 should also be completed apart from preparation work for SA1. Whereas, for the Second term, a total of five months is available from October to February. This puts more pressure on the student during the first term compared to the second term. Is it possible to postpone SA1 exams by 15 days from the next academic year?

It has been found that the number of days in the two terms after taking into account holidays and examination days are almost equal. SAI examination can be conducted by the school; there is no date fixed for the same.

c) Some schools/teachers are very strict in evaluation of Formative Assessments while others are liberal. This puts some students at a disadvantageous position, compared to others. Sometimes factors other than performance can play a role in the assessment. Because, up to 40 per cent of marks are to be granted by schoolteachers, parents generally resist taking up issues relating to academics with the teachers/school for fear of being victimised. Why doesn't CBSE have some specially-trained evaluators in each city/region who visit schools for evaluation of projects/presentations?

Formative assessment is done by the teachers based on the test scores obtained by their students, their participation in different activities, observation findings, etc. Often grades are assigned after taking inputs from other teachers also. Hence chances of biased assessment are minimised. There will be random verification of the assessment procedures of schools by the Board officials/nominees appointed by the Board.

d) Some schools do not have the necessary infrastructure like lab facilities and the necessary practical sessions are not even conducted. Games and sports are not encouraged and even sports day is not conducted. Further, some schools have special coaching for weak students whereas some schools indirectly force the parents to have private tuitions. How does the CBSE ensure that the schools follow uniform academic policy and have necessary infrastructure? Just like students are assessed on a continuous basis, the schools should also be assessed on a continuous basis and based on surprise visits and not on the basis of pre-planned routine inspections.

D Immanuel Ponraj

The Monitoring and Mentoring policy of the Board takes care of these aspects. Moreover, there will be random verification of the assessment procedures of schools by the Board officials/nominees appointed by the Board.

Please clarify: a) Are SA-II exams only conducted by the Board, and other exams such as SA-I, FA-I & II conducted by schools in Class X?

The Board-conducted SA-II of Class X is meant for the students of secondary schools and those of senior secondary schools who have opted to move out of the CBSE system. The remaining students of the senior secondary schools will be examined by their respective schools as per the guidelines issued by the Board and also mentioned in the circular No. 5/ 19.01.2011. The formative assessments for each term will be done by the schools as per the guidelines issued by the Board. Summative Assessment-I will be conducted by the schools as per the first term syllabus and the question paper design prescribed by the Board. The question paper CDs will be provided by the Board for the conduct of SAI.

b) Is the final marksheet issued by the Board will reflect all exam marks or grades through the Class X academic period or only that of SA-II?

Vittal Thiagarajan

The Certificate of School-based Assessment to be issued by the Board will only reflect the overall Grades obtained by a student in Summative and Formative Assessments (SA and FA) for Classes IX and X.

My daughter is in Class IX, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Chennai. This is about the CCE pattern. Is it true that the marks obtained in Class IX would be taken into account for the Class X Board examinations next year? If it is so, what will be the percentage? Will the Pre-Board exams being conducted now for Class IX be taken into account or the final examination (SA-II) will be taken into account? What will be the percentages?

C.V. Hariharan

Please refer to the recent circular No. 5/ 19.01.2011 which clearly states that as per the prescribed CCE scheme, four Formative Assessments (carrying a weightage of 10 per cent each) and two Summative Assessments (carrying a weightage of 20 per cent in term I and 40 per cent in term II) would be held in an academic year. The Certificate of School-based Assessment to be issued by the Board will only reflect the overall Grades obtained by a student in Summative and Formative Assessments (SA and FA) for Classes IX and X. Grades of Class IX will, however, not be clubbed with those of Class X.

I am a Class XII Commerce student. Is ‘Guarantee of profits' included in the Accountancy portions (2010-2011)?

Geethu Jacob (geeths.rebz@gmail.com)

Guarantee of profits is included in Partnership Accounts of Class XII.

I am so confused about these exams. Please let me know the question paper pattern and the weightage to MCQs for Class X exams.

Rahul Kumar

Please refer to the question paper design and Sample Question papers in different subjects for Summative

Examination, Class X, second term uploaded on the Board's website >www.cbse.nic.in.

On an average, 15-20 per cent weightage has been given to the MCQs.

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