Ask CBSE

1. How is the Cumulative Grade Point Average calculated? – Anishaa A., Class 12, Kendriya Vidyalaya Railway Colony, Bengaluru.

A. Cumulative Grade Point Average(CGPA) is the average of Grade Points obtained in all the subjects excluding the 6th additional subject as per the Scheme of Studies for Class IX/ Class X.

2. Class 9 and 10 CBSE students go through the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation system where they write two Summative Assessments with each exam containing only 50 per cent of the syllabus. All of a sudden the same students in Class 11 and 12 or PUC will have to write the exam in an annual scheme which includes the entire syllabus. It becomes difficult for students to learn and remember the entire syllabus in one stroke. – Pooja L. Kanth, Class 10, National Public School, Mysuru.

A. The main purpose of introducing CCE at Secondary level has been to reduce examination burden on students and give more emphasis on acquiring learning and life skills and nurturing their hobbies. In senior classes the students are mature and focussed enough to organise their studies and prepare for their Board examinations as well as entrance examinations for professional courses.

3. I would like to know whether the marks scored in Problem Solving Assessment will be taken into account for the final examination? – Anu Joseph, Class 11, Bhavan’s Munshi Vidyashram, Thiruvankulam, Ernakulam.

A. Marks scored in Problem Solving Assessment are counted towards FA-4 in class IX as well as class-X. Consequently, these marks are counted in the overall performance of a student during the year.

4. Due to some valid reason, if a student is unable to take up the Problem Solving Assessment in Class 9, what would be the marks awarded in Formative Assessment 4 of Class IX? – Chandravadhana, Class 9, National Model Senior Secondary School, Peelamedu, Coimbatore.

A. If a student is unable to appear in compulsory PSA in Class IX due to genuine and valid reasons with due information given to the school authorities, he/she can appear in this examination next year while studying in Class X. Under special circumstances, the school authorities may conduct FA-4 for special cases. However, every effort should be made to ensure that all students appear in Problem Solving Assessment.

5. Why are we not getting a stream choice in Class 9, like in the ICSE board? Don’t you think this will help students focus more on their preferred field? -Vinayak Sharma, Class 10, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Kolkata.

A. The CBSE does not promote subject streams. As per the Scheme of Studies, the students are free to choose electives of their choice from the given list of subjects based on their aptitude and interest in addition to one or two languages out of which one shall be Hindi and / or English.

6. I am a Class 10 student and have opted for the school-based examination. I wanted to know if there will be any priority for students who have opted for board correction for getting a seat in any other CBSE school for Class 11. – Abbas S.V., Class 10, St. John’s Senior Secondary School and Junior College, Chennai.

A. As there is no difference in the school-based assessment certificates issued by CBSE for the Board-conducted and school-conducted summative examination, the students can seek admission in the school of their choice based on their overall performance reflected in School-Based Assessment Certificate and the admission policy of the school.

7. Will our Class 9 result be added to the Class 10 results? –Sangamesh D., Class IX, Karnatak Public School, Bidar/ I would like to know if the CGPA obtained in Class 9 will be added to the CGPA of Class 10?- Sugam Yadav, Class 9, Arunodaya Public School, Delhi.

A. Grades of IX and X will not be combined for CGPA. The grades obtained by a student in Class IX and Class X are reflected separately in Class X Certificate.

8. Why is Problem Solving Assessment conducted instead of Formative Assessment 4? How does it help students? –Rajshekar Bunage, Class 9, Karnatak Public School, Bidar.

A. Problem Solving Assessment is conducted primarily to promote thinking skills, reasoning skills, analytical skills, language skills and other higher order mental skills of the students. Development of such life skills helps the students to improve their performance in academics as well as real life situations.

9. Many say that correction by board authorities would be a little liberal. Is that true? –Vivek G. Class 10, Pon Vidya Mandir School, Karur.

A. As far as CBSE is concerned the marking of answer sheets is done as per the marking scheme prepared by the Board.

10. What is the best way to go about studying for Mathematics? – Nitish Raghav, Class 10, Pon Vidyashram, Valasaravakkam.

A. The best way to study Mathematics is to have sufficient practice in solving variety of unsolved questions. Instead of rote learning of formulae, their repeated use in solving questions with proper understanding of the processes involved can help you a lot.

11. What are the CBSE norms regarding student attendance in Class 12? Can a school debar any child from sitting for board exam if he has not completed 75% school attendance in Class 12?- Kshitij Chitransh, Class 12, Maharshi Patanjali Vidya Mandir, Teliarganj, Allahabad.

A. A student should have minimum 75% attendance to be eligible to appear for the Class XII examination. However on medical grounds, the attendance should be minimum 60%. The attendance can be further condoned on account of serious medical conditions as contained in rule 14 of the Examination byelaws which are available on the CBSE’s website. A school can debar a student from appearing in the Class XII examination on the grounds of shortage of attendance and not fulfilling above requirement.

12. Due to some valid reason, if a student is unable to take up the Assessment of Speaking and Listening Skills (ASL) in Class 9, what would be the marks awarded? –Roshini. V, Class 9, Shemford School, Hosur.

A. It is the responsibility of the school authorities to conduct the test and send the result. Since it is a formal examination, all rules which apply to other examinations apply to ASL also. There should be no reason why a student cannot take an exam unless there is a medical emergency. Then also the school has to take a call in the welfare of a student.

13. I have not taken a sixth subject in Class 11, but I want to take a sixth subject in Class 12. Can I get a sixth subject? –Ashish Kumar, Class 11, Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Bokaro.

A. As a rule, the student should have studied the same subjects in Classes XI and XII.

14. Is there any rule stating that only a student who is going to take another Board in Class 11 should opt for the CBSE Class X Board-based examination? – Devayani Keer, Class 10, Sophia Senior Secondary School, Bhilwara, Rajasthan.

A. As per the CBSE’s Scheme of Examinations at Secondary level, students of schools affiliated to the Board who wish to move out of the CBSE system after Class X, i.e. who wish to join institutions/ schools/ Junior Colleges affiliated to Boards other than the CBSE shall be required to take the Board’s External Examination (Summative Assessment II) at Secondary (Class X) level.

15. Why is the Open Text Based Assessment (OTBA) conducted with Summative Assessment II for 10 marks? How does it help students? – B. Sriram, Class 9, Sri Prakash Vidyaniketan, Visakhapatnam.

A. The Open Text-Based Assessment provides opportunities to students to apply theoretical concepts to a real-life scenario by encouraging active and group learning in the class. The students are tested on their ability to comprehend, analyse and interpret the given situation, offer suggestions and opinions on the given issues based on their knowledge of concepts. OTBA is less stressful for students as it is more natural and requires less time for preparation and memorisation of facts as compared with closed examination. It gives more time for logical and creative thinking and promotes greater understanding of subjects. It also trains them in effective use of memory and acquiring skills of processing information thus making learning a pleasurable activity.

16. Class X students were given the opportunity of taking a vocational subject last academic year (Class IX). Our school offered Retail- Code 401, as the vocational subject. Kindly support us with sample papers as this is the first batch sitting for this subject. –Sharon Hepzibah, Class X, Chennai Public School, Thirumazhisai, Chennai

A. You may request your school to send a mail to CBSE Vocational Unit at its email id: voc.cbse@gmail.com for getting sample question paper on the Retail course.

17. Is there any necessity for model tests before Summative Assessment 2? –Yogesh P., Class 9, Mahendra International School, Namakkal

A. The very purpose of CCE is to reduce examination stress among students. Emphasis should be on enhancement of learning by using a variety of learner friendly tools and techniques of assessment and integrating them in teaching-learning process which should be innovative, flexible and sensitive to the needs of students.

18. Will NCC enrolment increase our Class 10 grades? – Roshreysuff, Class 9, Shree Sarasswathi Vidhyaah Mandheer School, Coimbatore

A. Subjects are for experiencing the joys in the learning process. N.C.C. is offered as an additional subject for the students who wish to appear for the A certificate at secondary level. It can also be offered as part of Co-scholastic Activities under Part 3 (B) Health & Physical Education. The curriculum of NCC has been designed specially to focus on character building and inculcation of leadership qualities and skill enhancement among students.

19. How many activities or projects should be conducted for each Formative Assessment? – Shiva Tanayd, Class 9, Karnatak Public School, Bidar

A. The Board does not promote too many tests in Formative Assessment. Formative Assessment may comprise of two/three varieties of assessment techniques including one small pen-paper test.

20. How much marks from Problem Solving Assessment will be added for each subject? –J. Ajay, Class 10, Pon Vidya Mandir, Karur

A. Weightage of 10% is given to Problem Solving Assessment performance in the calculation of overall result of a student in every subject.

 

Courtesy: The Hindu

Filed under: Ask the CBSE, CBSE