CBSE comes up with new aptitude test for Class 10

Updated on: Friday, September 24, 2010

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that they will soon be introducing a new aptitude test for students of Class 10.

The CBSE had already introduced major changes in its curriculum this year by switching to the grading system instead of marks and implementing the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system instead of the yearly examinations.

The aptitude test that has been developed by the CBSE, called the Students' Global Aptitude Index (SGAI)will be made available to students in all 10,000 schools that are affiliated with the Board. The test aims at helping all students to make a better choice regarding their career.

The first such SGAI test will be conducted on January 15, 2011. A fee of Rs.100 will have to be paid by each student to appear for the aptitude test.

According to CBSE, the test will be two-and-half hour long and will be a paper-pencil test. It would help in determining the scientific, numerical, social, behavioral science and art aptitudes of a student of Class 10.

The SGAI has been customized by the CBSE specifically for Indian students. While conventional aptitude tests help in determining a student's professional orientation, the SGAI test by CBSE will only help in determining the subject orientations of students at +2 level.

The test would also help students by empowering them with self-knowledge in terms of their aptitude as well as interests so as to help them make the best decision regarding what subjects or stream to pursue after Class 10.

A CBSE circular said that the SGAI intends to reduce the difference between a student's aptitude and interests. This will help in further optimizing a students' potential, enhance satisfaction, increase motivation and also help in reducing wastage of human and financial resources.

The circular further added that the test will also help parents, teachers and students to initiate discussions on various subject choices and the careers they lead to further in life. "Mental preparedness and sincere responses are the pre-requisites for the test. SGAI scores may depend on a student's environmental stimulus and motivational level."

The SGAI test has already been tested on a group of secondary students from around 100 schools affiliated to CBSE across the country. The decision to conduct the test will lie with the schools. CBSE will also be organizing training workshops to familiarize school principals to the new aptitude test.

CBSE comes up with new aptitude test for Class 10

More Education news