CBSE 'Open Book' exams this year? Here's what we know so far
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is reportedly considering the implementation of Open Book Examinations (OBE) for students from classes 9 to 12, in line with the recommendations set out in the recent National Curriculum Framework published last year .
CBSE Exams 2024: In the recent academic panorama, open book tests have emerged as a new method to evaluate students' knowledge of subjects. Unlike the conventional closed-book format, these open-book exams allow students to refer back to their study materials, notes, and other useful resources as they answer. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is reportedly considering the implementation of Open Book Examinations (OBE) for students from classes 9 to 12, in line with the recommendations set out in the recent National Curriculum Framework published last year , the Indian Express reported.
According to the report, the board has drawn up a plan to conduct a pilot phase of open book tests in selected schools. These tests cover subjects such as English, maths and science for grades 9 and 10, and English, maths and biology for grades 11 and 12. The aim of this pilot, scheduled for later this year, is to evaluate the time spent taken by students to conduct such tests and the responses from stakeholders, the sources told IndianExpress.
What happens during the open book exam?
During an open book exam, candidates are allowed to carry their textbooks, study materials and notebooks with them and consult them during the exam. Speaking of the exam, contrary to popular belief, open book exams (OBEs) are not as easy as they seem. They often pose greater challenges. The reason lies in the fact that an open book test does not rely on rote memory, but rather assesses a student's understanding of a subject and their ability to analyze and apply concepts. It is not just about writing the learned textbook content on the answer sheet; instead, it requires critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information effectively. According to the IndianExpress report, the pilot phase is likely to take place in November-December this year. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will decide to conduct this form of assessment in all its schools for classes 9 to 12, based on the experience from the pilot phase.
The board aims to complete the design and development of the OBE pilot by June and has chosen to seek advice from the University of Delhi (DU). Notably, DU implemented open-book testing in August 2020 amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite opposition. Earlier in 2020, the Delhi High Court allowed Delhi University to conduct online open book exams for final year students with certain directions. A single bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh allowed the varsity to conduct online open book exams on the condition that the question paper would be available on the portal and sent by email to all students appearing for the exams.