Kolkata: With multiple changes in the examination system, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) class 10 and XII and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) class 10 board exam (ICSE) are starting from Tuesday.
In ICSE, examinees will get more critical-thinking questions that will make up 40% of the paper from this year's examination.
CBSE is introducing online checking from this year, where examiners will mark online after the answer papers are uploaded into a central portal from the regional centres. Earlier, every centre posted answer sheets to the regional centres for manual distribution. CBSE class 10 students will get two chances to appear in the board examination starting this year.
Principals and teachers of schools affiliated with the boards advised students to remain calm and focused for the exams.
Principals of CISCE-affiliated school are confident of students doing well in the exams and believe they have got enough time to prepare. Rammohan Mission School principal Sujoy Biswas said students have become accustomed to the changed pattern and practised several times.
Rishi Aurobindo Memorial Academy School principal Bobby Baxter said, "We told students to plan study time wisely, focus on high-weightage topics, practise writing answers, revise regularly, and get adequate sleep. Eat light, stay hydrated, remain calm, and manage time carefully in the examination hall. Confidence and consistency are the keys to success."
CISCE has given special focus on strengthening the security system in the exam halls and close monitoring of the examination process, as conveners and invigilators will all be under monitoring. This time, all exam centres have been asked to keep CCTV footage for 60 days after the publication of results.
Abhinav Bharati School principal Srabani Samanta said, "We have told our students to be calm and not to take excessive stress. Since three board examinations are starting on the same day, leave home a bit early to avoid traffic congestion."
CBSE has introduced a dual examination format for Class X board batches, but in the second phase of the examination, students can take tests in no more than three papers. "Students should take the first phase of the exam seriously because in the second phase they will get a chance to improve their score, where they can appear for a maximum of three papers. So, we told our students not to be too relaxed thinking that they have another chance to appear for the exams."
The Newtown School principal Satabdi Bhattacharjee said, "Students are quite aware of the changes made by the board, and we told students and parents not to take excessive stress. Students were told that this exam should be considered similar to their annual test, but they should be very careful while writing answers."
DPS Howrah principal Sunita Arora said, "Students were told that the CBSE Board examination is simply a platform to present what they have learned with sincerity and confidence. I urge all students to arrive at the examination centre early—preferably by 9 am—so that they may begin the day calmly and without haste."