CBSE Approves Class 9 Open Book Exams from 2026-27, Know Complete Details

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to bring a big change for Class 9 students. From the 2026-27 academic year, students will have CBSE Class 9 Open Book Exams in certain subjects. 

This decision was taken after discussions and a pilot study that tested how students and teachers respond to the idea.

CBSE Class 9 Open Book Exams from 2026-27

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will start open-book exams for Class 9 from the 2026-27 academic year. These exams will cover subjects from the CBSE Class 9 syllabus, such as Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and Languages. 

In this format students can use textbooks and notes while writing the exam. The aim is to help them understand and apply the topics in the syllabus instead of just memorising them, making learning more practical and less stressful.

CBSE Approves Open-Book Exams

The governing body of CBSE has approved open-book exams to make learning more practical. The aim is to reduce rote memorisation and help students understand concepts better. 

This step also help the goals of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What is an Open Book Assessment?

An Open Book Assessment is a type of exam where students can use their textbooks, notes, and other approved materials while answering questions.

 It does not mean the exam will be easy. Students will still need to understand the topics and know how to use the information in the right way.

Subjects Covered in CBSE Class 9 Open Book Exams

From 2026-27, open-book exams will be introduced in:

• Mathematics

• Science

• Social Science

• Languages

Pilot Study and Feedback

In December 2023, CBSE tested open-book exams for Classes 9 to 12. The results showed that students scored between 12% and 47%, which means many found it challenging to use the resources well.

 However, teachers gave positive feedback and supported the system, saying that proper guidance and training could help students perform better.

How CBSE Plans to Implement the Change

CBSE will prepare sample papers for open-book exams to make sure the quality is maintained. The board will also give training and guidance to schools so they can include open-book tests in their internal assessments.

Past Attempts at Open-Book System

CBSE had introduced a similar system in 2014 called the Open Text-Based Assessment for Class 9 and Class 11.

 It was later discontinued as it did not fully meet the goal of improving critical thinking skills.