The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is contemplating the introduction of Open Book Examinations (OBE) for students in Classes 9 to 12. Aligned with the recommendations of the new National Curriculum Framework, CBSE aims to conduct a pilot run in selected schools by November, 2024. 

What is OBE?

Open Book Examinations allow students to reference their notes, textbooks, or study materials during the test. Contrary to popular belief, OBEs aren't necessarily easier; they gauge a student's comprehension, analysis, and understanding skills rather than rote memorization.  

Pilot Run for English, Math, and Science

The proposed pilot, scheduled for November-December this year, will focus on English, Mathematics, and Science for Classes 9 and 10, and English, Mathematics, and Biology for Classes 11 and 12. The purpose is to evaluate students' completion time and gather feedback from stakeholders. 

Based on the outcomes and experiences from the pilot, CBSE will decide whether to implement Open Book Exams across all its schools for Classes 9 to 12. The initiative seeks to foster a more holistic and practical evaluation of students knowledge and skills.