The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced significant updates for the CBSE Board Exam 2025, including a 15% syllabus reduction for Classes 10 and 12. The announcement, made by CBSE’s Bhopal regional officer Vikas Kumar Agrawal during a principal’s summit in Indore, underscores a move towards reducing rote memorization and fostering deeper learning.
New Syllabus Framework and Reduced Content Load
The syllabus reduction aligns with CBSE’s evolving educational framework, aiming to give students more room to explore subjects in depth. According to Agrawal, this adjustment will relieve students from excessive content, enhancing their capacity for critical thinking and concept mastery.
Greater Emphasis on Internal Assessment
A notable change is the increased weightage for internal assessments, now accounting for 40% of the final score, with the remaining 60% derived from the final board exams. The internal assessment will cover projects, assignments, and periodic tests, creating a balanced evaluation model. This approach promotes continuous learning and allows students to demonstrate their understanding progressively throughout the year.
Practical Knowledge and Skill-Based Questions in Exams
Reflecting the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CBSE’s new exam structure will prioritize practical and skill-based knowledge. Approximately 50% of the 2025 exam questions will be application-focused, assessing students’ real-world problem-solving abilities. By moving away from traditional memorization, CBSE aims to cultivate critical thinking and practical skills that align with current educational standards.
Introduction of Digital Assessment and Open-Book Exams
CBSE will continue using digital assessment for select subjects, a practice that has improved grading accuracy and transparency. Additionally, open-book exams will be introduced for subjects like English Literature and Social Science, allowing students to refer to textbooks during the CBSE Board Exam. This shift emphasizes analytical skills and a deeper understanding of concepts, supporting a learning environment that values comprehension over memorization.
Transition to a Two-Term Exam Structure by 2026
For the 2025 academic year, the single-term exam format will remain in place. However, CBSE has confirmed plans to implement a two-term structure starting in the 2025-2026 session. This change aims to provide students with more frequent assessments, helping to manage their studies more effectively and reducing the stress associated with one high-stakes exam.
CBSE Board Exam 2025 Highlights
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