In order to give students enough time and opportunities to perform well, the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education 2023 has recommended significant changes in assessment across different levels of schooling. The document of the national steering committee suggests that Board exams be held at least twice a year.  “The aim of assessment will shift from one that is summative and primarily tests rote memorisation skills to one that is more regular and formative, is more competency-based, promotes learning and development, and tests higher-order skills.” - NCF 2023 

Assessment Across Stages

NCF Draft For School Education

The board eaxms suggestion stated that "the final certification will be based on the cumulative result of each of the examinations." It recommends eight curriculum areas each for classes 9-10 and 11-12. Students of class 11-12 can opt for any 16 choice-based courses from the eight curriculum areas, to be covered in four semesters. Choice-based  course will be covered in each one semester. For class 9-10, the annual scgedule will be followed but two board exams for each year has been recommended. Students will be offered flexibility in choice of subjects in classes 11-12. The secondary stage of classes 9-12 will comprise four years of multi-disciplinary study. 

Humanities; Mathematics and Computing; Vocational education; Physical Education; Arts education; Social Science; Science and interdisciplinary areas are eight curricular areas included in the draft. 

Written Tests For Classes 3 to 5

"The two important methods of assessment that are appropriate for the Foundational Stage are observations of the child and analysing artefacts that the child has produced as part of their learning experience. It should not contribute to any additional burden for the child." 

If we talk about the current assessment, students of class 10th and 12th have deep anxiety as the parents put a lot of pressure on them. Boards should make sure that all test developers, reviewers, and evaluators have completed formal university-certified courses in test development before they begin this work, according to the new curriculum, which was recently given to the government for feedback and finalization after 18 years of development. It is not confirmed that the students will get option to take a paper more than once or enable them to take a few papers at a time. 

Changes In Board Examinations

• A valid picture of student performance should be provided.
• Board exams should be offered at least twice a year.
• Education Boards should have no role in the design of the curriculum or the articulation of competencies.
• Vocational/Arts/Physical education are integral part of the curriculum. Boards of examination will need to design high quality test instruments for these and need to assessed differently from what is normally done. 

Source: Times Of India