With ‘flexible timing’,Class IX students to write exams under new format

“The Board has extended the concept to Class IX with effect from October 2009. It will be taken forward to Class X from 2010-11,” CBSE spokesperson Rama Sharma said.

All schools affiliated to the CBSE have been asked to give 3 to 3.5 hours to the students to attempt the question paper.

The Class IX exams were earlier conducted by the schools but this year,with the introduction of CCE,CBSE has extended its operations to Class IX. Their exams begin next week.

Under the CCE,both scholastic and co-scholastic areas will be evaluated. The syllabus has been split into two terms; in each term,there will be two formative assessments and one summative assessment. The two formative tests carry 10 per cent weightage each while one summative test carries 20 per cent weightage in first term and 40 per cent weightage in the final term.

Flexible timing has been given for the summative assessment-II that starts next month. “By giving flexible timing to the students,they are at ease while attempting the question paper. Now if a child feels that the question paper is lengthy,she can take her time and not be anxious when the three hours are over,” Usha Ram,principal,Laxman Public School,said.

The syllabus and question paper format in different subjects for Class IX summative assessment-II were circulated by the Board earlier. “CDs wth question banks were distributed to each school. Principals were sent the code word to access the papers,” Sharma added. The summative assessment will be conducted by the schools. “In order to ensure standardisation and uniformity,the question paper banks in different subjects have been sent by the Board to schools,” Sharma said.

The evaluation of answer scripts will be done by teachers of the schools themselves. “We have sent a marking scheme to the schools,” the spokesperson said. There will be “random verification of the assessment procedures carried out by schools by Board officials or nominees appointed by the Board.”