Two-tier difficulty levels- ‘Standard and Advanced’ for Science and Social Science papers in class 9 from 2026–27 academic session
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to implement two difficulty levels ‘Standard and Advanced’ for Science and Social Science subjects. This will begin in Class 9 from 2026-27 academic session. The first batch of students will appear for the board exams in 2028. This initiative follows the successful implementation of a similar system for Mathematics in Class 10, which offered Standard and Basic levels since 2019-2020 academic session
While the final format is still under discussion, CBSE is considering two possibilities: a single question paper with additional advanced-level questions, or separate papers for the Standard and Advanced levels for Science and Social Science subjects. Students will have the choice to select either Standard or Advanced levels.
This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates offering subjects at varying difficulty levels to reduce academic pressure. This modification is expected to provide students with greater flexibility in their learning paths and assessments, cultivating a more personalized and less stressful educational experience.
Officials also believe this move will help students perform better in entrance exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) by reducing their reliance on external coaching.