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CBSE Changes Exam Format for Classes 11, 12 From 2024–25

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has revised the exam format for Class 11th and 12th for the session 2024-25. Here, we discuss the Changed Exam Format for Class 11 and 12.
authorImageAnanya Gupta8 Apr, 2024
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CBSE Changes Exam Format For Classes 11 And 12 From 2024–25

CBSE Changes Exam Pattern for class 11, 12 2024-25: CBSE has introduced a new exam pattern for classes 11 and 12 for the academic session 2024-25. This change is aimed at enhancing students' analytical and practical skills.

The exam pattern now emphasizes competency-based questions, which assess students' understanding and application of concepts in real-life scenarios. This shift is expected to provide a more holistic evaluation of students' knowledge and abilities. However, there are no changes to the exam pattern for classes 9 and 10.

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CBSE Changes Exam Format for Classes 11, 12 2024–25

In a significant move towards enhancing students' analytical and practical skills, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced changes to the examination format for classes 11 and 12, effective from the academic year 2024-25. Joseph Emanuel, CBSE's Director (Academics), highlighted that these changes align with the National Education Policy, 2020, emphasizing competency-based education. The revised format places greater emphasis on competency-based questions, which will constitute 50% of the total marks, up from the previous 40%. This shift aims to assess students' abilities beyond rote memorization, encouraging critical thinking and fostering creativity, crucial for meeting the challenges of the 21st century. The percentage of long-answer and short-answer questions has been reduced to 30%, down from the previous 40%, reflecting CBSE's commitment to nurturing higher-order thinking skills among students.

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CBSE Changes Exam Pattern for Class 11, 12 2024-25

The new exam pattern brings in different kinds of questions that focus on skills like understanding, problem-solving, and practical thinking. These questions include multiple-choice, case-based, and source-based questions. They're designed to test not just what you know, but also how well you can use that knowledge in real-life situations. This change is welcomed by students, teachers, and parents because it makes exams more interesting and useful. By asking these types of questions, CBSE is helping students get ready for real-world challenges.

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This new way of testing means students need to learn in a more complete way. It's not just about remembering facts anymore. They need to understand why things happen and how they can be used in different situations. This kind of learning is important not just for exams, but also for going to college and dealing with the complexities of life.

CBSE Question Paper Pattern changed for Class 11 and 12 2024-25

Starting from the academic year 2024-25, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a new question paper pattern for Class 11 and 12 exams, aimed at enhancing students' practical skills and critical thinking abilities.

Increased Focus on Competency-Based Questions (50%): You can expect a greater emphasis on questions that test your ability to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios. This includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with application scenarios, case studies analyzing real-life situations, and source-based integrated questions that assess your ability to interpret data from various sources.

Reduced Emphasis on Long Answer Questions (30%): The weightage of traditional questions requiring long, descriptive answers has been reduced to allow for a more balanced assessment approach.

Alignment with NEP 2020: This shift in exam format aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and practical understanding among students.

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Here's a summary of the changes in the CBSE exam format for Classes 11 and 12:

Question Type Pre-2024 Weightage New Weightage (Implemented from 2024-25)
Competency Focused Questions 40% 50%
(MCQs, Case-Based, Source-Based etc.)
Select Response Type Questions (MCQs) 20% 20%
Constructed Response Questions 40% 30%
(Short/Long Answer)

Benefits of CBSE 2024 New Exam Pattern 2024-25 for Class 11, 12

Focus on Application: The increased emphasis on competency-based questions, including MCQs with application scenarios, case studies, and source-based integrated questions, encourages students to go beyond rote memorization. Instead, they develop a deeper understanding of concepts and learn to apply their knowledge to real-world situations, which is essential for higher education and future careers.

Better Critical Thinking: Analyzing case studies, interpreting data from various sources, and proposing solutions all foster critical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to think critically, analyze information, and draw conclusions, which prepares them for problem-solving in diverse contexts.

Improved Analytical Skills: The new exam format requires students to analyze options in MCQs, identify relevant concepts in case studies, and make connections between different sources of information. This strengthens their analytical skills, enabling them to break down complex problems and identify key elements effectively.

Alignment with NEP 2020: The revised format aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's vision of fostering a more holistic and application-oriented education system. This shift promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative learning, preparing students for the demands of the 21st-century workplace.

Improved Learning Outcomes: By encouraging a deeper understanding and application of concepts, the new exam format has the potential to enhance overall learning outcomes for students.

Is the CBSE Class 9, 10 2024-25 Exam Pattern also Changed?

While significant changes have been introduced for the exam patterns of Classes 11 and 12, CBSE has confirmed that there will be no changes to the exam format for Classes 9 and 10, ensuring consistency across different grade levels. The question papers for the year-end board theoretical tests in classes IX and X will remain unchanged.

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In the meantime, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced the release of textbooks for Classes 3 and 6 based on the updated syllabus. This decision by NCERT aligns with the recent mandate from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which requires the adoption of new syllabus and textbooks for Classes 3 and 6 starting from the upcoming academic session.
CBSE Class 12 Subject-wise Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus CBSE Class 12 Computer Science Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus CBSE Class 12 Economics Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 English Core Syllabus CBSE Class 12 Accountancy Syllabus
CBSE Class 12 English Elective Syllabus CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus

CBSE Changes Exam Format For Classes 11, 12 From 2024–25 FAQs

What are the key changes in the exam format for Classes 11 and 12 introduced by CBSE?

The key changes include a higher emphasis on competency-based questions, such as Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with application scenarios, case studies, and source-based integrated questions. There is a reduced emphasis on long-answer questions.

What percentage of the total marks do competency-based questions constitute in the new exam format?

Competency-based questions now constitute 50% of the total marks, reflecting CBSE's focus on assessing students' practical skills and critical thinking abilities.

How has the weightage of long-answer questions changed in the new exam format?

The weightage of traditional long-answer questions has been reduced to 30% from the previous 40%, allowing for a more balanced assessment approach.

When will the changes to the exam format for Classes 11 and 12 come into effect?

The changes to the exam format for Classes 11 and 12 will come into effect from the academic year 2024-25.

Will there be any changes to the exam format for Classes 9 and 10?

No, CBSE has confirmed that there will be no changes to the exam format for Classes 9 and 10, ensuring uniformity across grade levels.
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