Class X students of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board are left with two options: school-based exams and board-based exams. With the final examinations fast approaching, students are still mulling over which one to opt for.
“The numbers of those taking the school exams are steadily rising. However, in my opinion, taking the board exam allows a student to keep his options open, especially if they haven't decided if they want to continue in the same school or shift boards,” said Mansoor Ali Khan, general secretary, Management of Independent CBSE Schools Association and secretary, Delhi Public School.
He added that the number of students taking the school-based exam has increased as compared to the previous year.
The role of parents plays a crucial role in deciding what the students should opt for.
“Such a decision should be taken in conjunction with parents because the students are too young to take such a decision themselves,” he said.
Venkat International Public School, for instance, advise their students to take up the board exam regardless of the choice.
“Even though, there is no difference in terms of preparation, students and teachers feel that board exams are more secure. Moreover, in a board exam, students need not feel that there is some sort of partiality being shown, since it is evaluated externally,” said school chairman, T Balakrishna.
However, there are others who feel that taking the school exam is less complicated. “For instance, one of my students who took up the school-based exam wanted to apply for re- valuation and a photocopy of her answer script. The process was so much easier.
The same process would have been cumbersome if she had taken the board exam,” said Manjula Raman, principal of Army Public School.
“The board exam has far more value than the school exam. We also feel that in terms of evaluation, the board exam may be much better. To be on the safer side, we have advised our son to opt for board exam,” said Pushpa Singh, mother of Aakash, student of Air Force School (Hebbal).
For Malaika G Naidu, who just took up Class 10 CBSE exam, what really does matter is getting one’s priorities right. “Honestly, I’ve told my juniors that it doesn’t make any difference. The only difference is who evaluates the answer sheets. And even that does not matter because, in both cases, the examiners check the papers based on the key. However, if one wants to shift schools or change boards, it is important to take the board exam,” she said.
