CBSE class 12 boards may have short tests | Economic Times

A broad consensus has emerged after a high-level meeting called on Sunday, that Class-XII board exams must be held — but in a minimised and in-school format, compressed to 90 minutes instead of the regular three hours and with “very short questions” in 19 major subjects.A final view on this will be taken by May 25, and all state governments have been asked to send in their suggestions before that.A national consultation was held on Sunday to discuss the schedule for Class-XII board exams and the all India entrance exams — all of which have been postponed due to the pandemic. It was chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh and attended by union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ besides ministers Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar and Sanjay Dhotre. It is gathered that two options were put on the table for discussion on the exam format by the Central Board of Secondary Education.Option A proposed conducting regular exams for the 19 major subjects at notified exam centres within three months — by August — and assessment of the minor subjects on the basis of this performance. Results would come by September 20 under this option.The other option, however, is learnt to have found more favour from most state governments.This option B suggests that to ensure student safety, exams should be conducted for 19 major subjects in two phases: first from July 15 to August 1 and then from August 5 to August 26. Results under this would be announced by September 5.The idea is that if a student misses one phase due to Covid-19-related concerns, he should be able to appear for the exam in the second phase.The exam would be held within the same schools where the students were enrolled, instead of exam centres, as per this option and the same would be facilitated with an electronic format question paper.