For the coming school-based Summative Assessment for classes IX and X, the CBSE has decided to send question papers to schools online for the first time.
According to J. Ajeeth Prasath Jain, secretary Chennai Sahodaya Complex, the main advantage of this system is that confidentiality of the papers could be maintained even if schools scheduled an exanimation on different dates. “Until last year, the board allowed us to choose from 25-30 question papers. So, if two schools happened to chose the same paper and scheduled the examination on different dates, confidentiality of the paper is compromised,” he said.
The question papers would be generated through Integrated Test Management System, he said.
Schools have been asked to register by February 15 through the CBSE website, so that they may download the question papers for all subjects on 5 March and 11 March for classes IX and X. Similarly, the marking scheme for the class IX and X examinations can be downloaded on 19 and 29 March respectively.
The CBSE gives students an option to choose between writing the school-based exam and board based exam. This system would be applicable only for question papers of school-based examinations, Mr. Prasath said. S. Amudha Lakshmi, principal, Chettinad Vidyashram, said that this system was definitely welcome. “Earlier the question papers were given in a CD, and we had to wait for it to arrive. Now, we can get the paper through the click of a mouse,” she said. K. Mohana, principal of Modern Senior Secondary School, in whose school all the 180 class X students are writing the board exam, said that the procedure has been simplified.
While the board examination will be conducted between 2 March and 15 March, schools have asked to conduct the school-based examination for class X between 16 March and 31 March.
