CBSE releases Special Assessment Scheme for Academic session 2021-22

Special Scheme for Assessment for classes 9 to 12 for Academic Session 2021-22 released by CBSE

The Central Board of Secondary Education has released a notification to all the heads of schools affiliated to CBSE regarding the Special Scheme of Assessment for classes 9 to 12 for the Session 2021-22. As per the notification, instead of one Board exam at the end of the year, the academic session has been split into two terms, with the Board conducting exams at the end. The board has decided to conduct Term I in November – December and Term II examination March – April respectively. Term I would be an objective MCQ based paper with OMR sheet while Term II would be a simple subjective paper. In case, however, situations are not conducive, Term II would also be an MCQ based examination

CBSE has decided to rationalize the syllabus for the academic session 2021-22 after consultations with the stakeholder of Government schools as well as private independent schools from across the country especially schools from the remote rural areas similar to last year in view of reduced time permitted for organizing online classes and availability of electronic gadgets, connectivity and effectiveness of online teaching and other socio-economic issues especially with respect to students from economically weaker section and those residing in far flung areas of the country.

Key Points of Special Scheme of Assessment

  • Schools will continue teaching in distance mode till the authorities permit in person mode of teaching in schools.
  • Academic session to be divided into 2 Terms with approximately 50% syllabus in each term.
  • The syllabus for the Board examination 2021-22 will be rationalized. Syllabus will be rationalised by July end.
  • Classes 9-10: Internal Assessment (throughout the year-irrespective of Term I and II) would include the 3 periodic tests, student enrichment, portfolio and practical work/ speaking listening activities/ project. 
  • Classes 11-12: Internal Assessment (throughout the year-irrespective of Term I and II) would include end of topic or unit tests/ exploratory activities/ practical’s/ projects. 
  • CBSE will facilitate schools to upload marks of Internal Assessment on the CBSE IT platform.
  • The Board will organize Term I Examination in a flexible schedule to be conducted between November-December 2021. The Question Paper will have Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) including case-based MCQs and MCQs on assertion-reasoning type. Duration of test will be 90 minutes and it will cover only the rationalized syllabus of Term I only (i.e., approx. 50% of the entire syllabus)
  • The Board would organize Term II or Year End Examination based on the rationalized syllabus of Term II only (i.e., approximately 50% of the entire syllabus). This examination would be held around March-April 2022
  • The paper will be of 2 hours duration and have questions of different formats (case-based/ situation based, open ended- short answer/ long answer type).
  • In case the situation is not conducive for normal descriptive examination a 90-minute MCQ based exam will be conducted at the end of the Term II also
  • Question Papers for both Term I and II will be sent by the CBSE to schools along with a marking scheme.
  • Projects/Practical’s will be conducted in a very authentic way.
  • Schools need to create a student profile for all assessments undertaken over the year and retain the evidence in digital format.

CBSE had to cancel both its class 10 and 12 Board examinations of the year 2021 due to the extreme risk associated with the conduct of Board examinations during the second wave of COIVD-19 Pandemic in April 2021. The results are to be declared on the basis of a credible, reliable, flexible and valid alternative assessment policy The Result of Class 10 is expected to be released by July 15 and for class 12 by July 31, 2021.