CBSE Introduces Open Book Exams for Classes IX and XI

A trial open-book test for Classes IX and XI will be administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

While the open-book test plan for six subjects in classes IX-XII had been accepted by the board’s governing body It was determined in a December meeting not to carry out the pilot program for classes X and XII in the 2024–2025 academic year.

A CBSE paper describing the pilot stated: “The tests may be piloted in schools to examine various aspects for this assessment namely, the time taken by students to complete it, its suitability for formative/summative purposes and the stakeholders’ perceptions regarding this.”

Testing the open-book testing procedure for science, math, and English for students in Classes IX and X as well as biology, math, and English for students in Classes XI and XII was something the committee was thinking about doing. This pilot’s original scope has now been narrowed, though.

The open book test will now be piloted for Classes IX and XI, according to board secretary Himanshu Gupta. In Classes X and XII, there won’t be an open book test. Several schools will host the trial program this year. It’ll be a bigger pilot in the 2025–2026 academic year.” A competency-based assessment was to be implemented,” Gupta continued.

Since it is urgently necessary to go from memorization to critical thinking, we have been giving these questions more weight for years. In the end, it is intended for about half of the Class X and XII exams to have competency-based questions.”