In a move that will bring great relief to class IX CBSE students, the board has decided to drop the Problem Solving Assessment (PSA) in classes IX and XI.
Instead, the students will appear for an additional Formative Assessment (FA).
For the past three years, CBSE has been conducting the PSA for classes IX and XI, with the board preparing the question paper along the lines of a competitive examination.
The examination is divided into four sections: reasoning, general knowledge, mathematics and science. The marks obtained in the different sections are then added to the marks of science, English, mathematics and social studies.
Students, teachers and principals in the city say that the cancellation of the PSA is a good move, since it will make a big difference in the marks of the students.
“Preparing for the PSA is difficult, especially since I am not attending any coaching for competitive examinations. I am glad that there will be an extra FA instead of the PSA,” S. Kamini, a student of Class IX said.
According to teachers, while about 10 per cent of the class usually do well in the examination, preparing for an exam along the lines of the PSA, is rather tough for the rest.
“Through the year, we give the students a number of sample question papers. The students who have enrolled for competitive examination coaching like to take the PSA, as it gives them practice, but for the rest, it is difficult,” A. Jayaprabha, a mathematics teacher said.
Conducting a PSA for the students is unfair, because it is very stressful for students when they join class IX after having to take only exams till class VIII, according to J. Ajeeth Prasath Jain, Senior Principal, Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram.
“In Class XI, especially, most of the students are focussed on their preparation for the IIT entrance and other examinations,” he said.
Meanwhile, CBSE is also collecting feedback from parents for the National Education Policy 2016. Parents can give their suggestions to the Ministry of Human Resource Development through the CBSE Academic website.
Instead of Problem Solving Assessment for classes IX and XI, the students will take the additional Formative Assessment. School teachers respond positively to the scrapping of PSA
