According to media reports, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is thinking of implementing Open Book Examination (OBE) for students of classes 9 to 12 in line with the recommendations of the new National Curriculum Framework released last year.
Sources reveal that the board is suggesting to trial open-book tests in selected schools for English, Mathematics and Science in Classes 9 and 10 and English, Mathematics and Biology in Classes 11 and 12 later this year. The goal of this pilot is to evaluate the time required for such tests and gather feedback from students and stakeholders.
In open-book exams, students can use their own notes, textbooks, and study materials during the test. However, OBEs are not necessarily easy; They often present more challenges. Unlike closed-book tests that test memory, open-book tests assess a student's subject understanding, analytical skills, and ability to apply concepts by reproducing textbook material on an answer sheet. Far more is required.
Media reports that the pilot is scheduled for November-December this year. Based on the experience, the Board will decide whether to implement this evaluation method in all its schools for classes 9 to 12 or not. The focus is on evaluating higher-order thinking skills, application, analysis, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving abilities. ,
The board aims to complete the design and development of the OBE pilot by June and plans to consult Delhi University (DU) for insights. Despite initial opposition, DU introduced open-book tests during the Covid pandemic in August 2020, which received approval from the Delhi High Court. The move faced criticism for potential discrimination against students lacking internet access and infrastructure, especially students from underprivileged and PWD categories, including visually impaired students.
OSD Exam in DU Ajay Arora shared that the OBE assessments were conducted from August 2020 to March 2022, with DU returning to physical exams in January 2022. While considering OBE for CBSE schools, the curriculum committee of the board discussed the importance of developing high-quality textbooks to help students understand and accept this new assessment methodology.
During the curriculum committee meeting, some members suggested that teachers should first go through open-book exams to understand the concepts. Additionally, he proposed providing teachers with an OBE of the same quality as the Advanced Placement exam, an entrance exam for American colleges, to aid in content development, setting a standard benchmark for the process.
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