NCERT proposes new assessment pattern for Class 12 boards; significant rule changes under consideration

NCERT: In an effort to provide a comprehensive view of student progress and move towards a more balanced method of assessment throughout secondary education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched a comprehensive assessment system for students.NCERT Certificate) has proposed a new assessment model for grades 9 to 12 Board resultsnews agencies reported on August 27. According to the new model, students’ performance in grades 9, 10 and 11 should contribute to their results in the class 12 exam.

This recommendation was made in a report titled ‘Establishing Equivalence Across Education Boards’, published in July, which suggests a progressive assessment framework for grades 10 and 12.

The new framework divides the academic year into two terms and recommends that grades 9, 10 and 11 be included in final Grade 12 board results. According to the report, “The weighting of formative and summative grades will be adjusted progressively from Grade 9 to Grade 12, with increasing emphasis on summative assessment as students move through the grades. Specifically, Grade 9 features a 7 per cent split of formative and 30 per cent summative grades, Grade 10 an equal split of 50 per cent formative and summative grades, Grade 11 a 40 per cent split of formative and 60 per cent summative grades, and Grade 12 a 30 per cent split of formative and 70 per cent summative grades.”

The report further details that “accordingly, the cumulative grades at the end of secondary school are 15 percent for Grade 9, 20 percent for Grade 10, 25 percent for Grade 11 and 40 percent for Grade 12.” This means that students’ performance over the years will play a significant role in their final grades.

A comprehensive approach will be employed for students in Grades 9-12, balancing formative (continuous) and summative (end-of-term) assessment methods to provide a holistic view of student progress. For Grades 10-12, the assessment framework will be divided into two periods.

“Semesters will include classroom-based assessments through HPC, which will include portfolio assessment, self-assessment, peer assessment, teacher observation, group work and laboratory activities,” the report says. It also suggests that final assessment will continue with competency-based assessments using ITMS, with teachers selecting from the question bank. Semester II will introduce formative assessments with additional components such as project work, live-voice presentations of work and group discussions. “Summative assessment will consist of a common assignment consisting of long answers, short answers, very short answers and multiple choice questions linked to learning outcomes, as per the design and plan of the question assignment,” the report details.