True to its constant endeavour to shift from the trend of rote learning to Competency-based Education (CBE) and by way of implementing the National Education Policy 2020, CBSE had made concrete changes in the board examination assessment scheme for the academic year 2021 – 22. Assessments are more formative and promote critical thinking, tipping the scale towards conceptual clarity of topics rather than rote memorization.
CBSE has truncated the syllabus considerably, keeping in view the problems of virtual education delivery owing to the closure of physical schools during the COVID 19 pandemic. The board has decided to further split the session into two equal terms with a 50% load of the syllabus on each. Every term will conclude with a board-organized and a term-end examination. A continuous evaluation system is implemented to test the students’ understanding of the topics including, practical and project work and internal assessments.
Welcoming this much-needed change in the way students learn and grow, academicians at Samsidh list the finer points of the special scheme of assessment for board exams to be held in the current session.
Composition of Year-End/ Board Examination
Till the AY 2020 – 21, the examination questions for class 10th were composed of 20% objective-type, 20% case or source-based integrated questions, and the remaining 60% would be a combination of short and long answer type questions. From the current academic year onwards, this pattern will change to at least 30% of competency-based questions, 20% objective questions, and 50% short or long answer type questions.
Similarly, the class 12th examinees will write 20% each of application-based and objective questions and the rest, short/ long answer questions, instead of the existing breakup of 20% objective, 10% case or source-based questions, and 70% of long/short questions.
With this composition of questions, CBSE aims to encourage students to hone their creative and analytic skills and focus more on the practical application of their concepts.
Scheme of Continuous Evaluation
Students of classes 9th till 12th, irrespective of the terms, will have to complete a specific schedule of continuous assessments throughout the academic year.
Evaluation of the students of class 9th and 10th will be based on 3-periodic tests, enrichment activities, practical work and project work. Class 11th and 12th students will be assessed on the basis of topic or unit-end tests, exploratory activities, and practical or projects.
To add credibility to these assessments, schools upload evidence of all the tests and project work on the CBSE IT platform as per the guidelines.
CBSE Circular Updates 2025
The CBSE board exams in 2025 are designed to be more application-oriented and aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Recent CBSE circulars highlight the following key updates in the scheme of assessment:
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Competency-Based Questions: A larger share of exam papers now include competency and application-based questions, testing how well students can apply concepts in real-life scenarios.
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More MCQs: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) have a higher weightage in the 2025 exams. This change aims to assess quick thinking and conceptual clarity.
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Case-Study Based Questions: Students are expected to analyze and solve case studies, especially in subjects like Science, Social Science, and Business Studies.
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Balanced Weightage: Traditional theory questions remain, but there’s a stronger push towards critical thinking and problem-solving rather than rote memorization.
These updates make it essential for students to focus not just on memorizing content but also on understanding, analyzing, and applying knowledge in practical situations.
Conduction of term-end examinations
Examinations at the end of terms I and II will be organized by CBSE. The question papers will be set by the board and exams supervised by CBSE-appointed supervisors/ observers.
The term I, to be held in a flexible window between November-December 2021, will consist of case-based/ assertion-reasoning type problems. Students will mark their answers on OMR sheets which will then be scanned and uploaded on the CBSE portal by the school.
In term II, slated to be held in March-April 2022, students will write a 2-hour exam comprising case/ situation-based, open-ended short and long answer type questions. If the situation doesn’t permit conducting such a descriptive examination, the board has provision for a 90-minute MCQ-type test.
Marks obtained in the two term-end examinations will add up to the final aggregate score of the session, along with the internal assessment scores achieved throughout the year.
CBSE has created provisions to counter all possible scenarios of organizing and conducting these term-end examinations in the purview of the pandemic. With the first term-end examination of the session drawing close, Samsidh Group of Schools is ready to successfully execute the new assessment scheme in coordination with the board.
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FAQs
1. What is the CBSE board exam marking scheme in 2025?
The CBSE board exam marking scheme in 2025 follows a mix of theory, internal assessment, and practicals. Competency-based questions and case studies now carry higher weightage.
2. Has the CBSE assessment scheme changed in 2025?
Yes, CBSE has introduced more application-based questions in 2025, along with a greater focus on analytical and reasoning skills to align with NEP 2020.
3. What is the weightage of internal assessment in CBSE board exams?
Internal assessments usually carry 20% weightage in most subjects, but it may vary depending on practical subjects like Computer Applications or Science.
4. How can CBSE students prepare for the 2025 board exams under the new scheme?
Students should focus on NCERT-based concepts, practice competency-based questions, and take mock tests to adapt to the updated assessment scheme.