The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning to consider Open Book Examinations (OBE) for students studying in Classes 9 to 12. This news has been confirmed by Director Media &PR Central Board of Secondary Education Rama Sharma.
"Dear friends, this information is correct. The decision has been taken in the Governing Body Meeting held in 2023 and the pilot will be conducted soon. For details, you can check GB minutes ( curriculum committee minutes) December 2023 on the website," said Rama Sharma, when asked about 'Is CBSE suggesting open-book examinations for students of Classes 9 to 12?'
As per the sources, the pilot run is likely to be conducted in the month of November. The board has suggested a pilot run of open-book examinations in selected schools for Mathematics, Science, and English for Classes 9 and 10 and Biology, English, and Mathematics for Classes 11 and 12. The pilot run will determine if this should be made applicable to all schools.
The sources further suggest that the pilot run will focus on assessing analytical thinking skills, application, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving abilities of students. The questions will not be direct but will be based on accessing the general overall understanding of the stud system related to particular concepts.
In an open-book examination, students are allowed to refer to their textbooks, study materials, or notes during the examination. However, OBEs are not easier than closed-book examinations as it does not analyse a student's memory but their understanding of a subject and their ability to analyse concepts.
