CBSE changes pass norms for students of classes IX, X

Mumbai: Following the annual meeting of the CBSE exam committee, the board has decided to bring about changes in the assessment pattern for classes IX and X. A circular released last week makes it clear that from now on, students from classes IX and X will have to mandatorily appear for the two summative assessments (SA) and pass with a certain percentage of marks.

"The circular makes it clear that if a child could not appear for any one SA, the school should hold another exam for him/her," said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal of Rajhans Vidyalaya in Andheri (W). She added that this will ensure that students don't take their exams lightly.

As per the rules, students of classes IX and X appear for four formative assessment (FA) and two SA exams. The FA is the school's responsibility, but question papers for the two SA exams are sent by the board. While class IX papers are checked in school, class X papers are checked by the board. The circular states that only those who participate in sports at the national/international level will be exempted from appearing for any one of the SA exams, provided that the student seeks permission in advance.

Also, students will have to score at least 25% marks in both SA exams , in order to pass. This means that students will have to score at least 15 out of 60 marks and a total of 33% in each of the five subjects. "CBSE is student-friendly and the aim of including FA and SA is to ensure that each and every child scores well and is promotedto plus-two," said Seema Maindiratta, principal of DAV School in Kharghar.

These rules will be effective for class IX students from the 2013-14 academic year while for class X students, the rules will be effective from 2014-15.