New CBSE test will assess application skills

City schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce a new test for Class 11 students in January 2013, which will assess students’ application skills.

City schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce a new test for Class 11 students in January 2013, which will assess students’ application skills.

According to the circular issued by the board on August 1, a detailed note on problem solving assessment (PSA) will be issued before September. More than 40 schools in Mumbai are affiliated to CBSE.

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Although the 90 mark test will be compulsory for Class 11 students, it will have no bearing on their annual evaluation, said board officials.

The test aims to evaluate students’ ability to process, interpret and use information. “Students score high in their exams but lack application skills. PSA will definitely be a positive step to imbibe application of knowledge instead of rote learning,” said Avnita Bir, principal of RN Podar High School in Santacruz.

The test will have multiple choice questions on usage of grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, maths and logic, said board officials.

The format is likely to be similar to popular entrance examinations. It will be designed in a way to improve generic and higher order thinking skills, which will improve the scores of core school subjects, they added.

Students will get a separate certificate on passing the test and those who wish to improve their marks will have the option to re-apply.

Though the test is mandatory for all students, the board will not issue a separate syllabus and schools will not conduct special classes for it. Since there will be no extra classes, students said it will not burden them.

“We can assess our applicatory skills with the help of such tests,” said Shonit Jolly, Class 11 student at RN Poddar.