CBSE mulls ability test for class 10

Updated on: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal's move to make class 10 examinations optional could result in the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) conducting another ability test, to measure the competency of students to choose the study subjects for class 11.

At the CBSE Board meeting held last week, members discussed the probability of another test for students, who opt out of the Class 10 examinations when it's made optional. "This test, to be conducted by CBSE, will enable schools to select students for a particular combination. Suppose a student wants to choose computer science and information technology as his subjects for class 11, how do schools going about admitting him/her for that study combination? It was proposed that we have an ability test for these students to check their competency," a Board member revealed.

To reduce the 'board exam stress' among students, Sibal had announced that the class 10 examinations will be made optional. Accordingly, students who wish to continue their class 11 in the same school can opt out of the Board examination.

The meeting discussed the repercussions of making the class 10 examinations optional, as the criteria to appear for many competitive examinations continues to be class 10. Some members told the Board that making the examinations optional would create confusion, as states continue to have their own Board examinations, and that students who don't have the Board examination tag would be in a disadvantageous position.

CBSE mulls ability test for class 10

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