Board Exams 2024-25: Significant Changes on the Horizon

New Delhi, 20th October 2023: Under the new educational policy, education is undergoing a series of significant transformations. Among these changes, one of the most noteworthy pertains to the upcoming alterations in the board examinations. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the most prominent shift is the introduction of biannual board exams, effectively bringing an end to the traditional annual examinations that have been the norm until now.

What’s the latest development in this regard, you might ask? Up until now, board exams, which were conducted once a year, are poised to transition to a biannual format. This change marks a momentous departure from the previous examination structure. The impetus for this transformation can be traced back to the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which spurred the Ministry of Education into action. Under the aegis of this policy, the Ministry has crafted the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for schools. Currently, the new school curriculum is being meticulously designed in line with the NCF’s recommendations, and the implementation phase is now well underway.

In a recent conversation with a media institute, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan disclosed that new textbooks tailored for students in classes III to VI, as well as those in classes IX and XI, will be readily available for the academic session in 2024-25. As for the remaining classes, the new textbooks are slated for introduction in the subsequent academic year, specifically in 2025-26.

Turning our attention to the biannual board exams, Minister Pradhan indicated that this format is scheduled to be introduced starting from the academic year 2024-25. In practical terms, this means that the shift will be observed during the 2025 board exams for students in classes X and XII, effectively just a year and a half away.

One of the notable changes accompanying this transition is the inclusion of the option for students to choose whether they wish to take the exam once or twice, depending on their level of preparedness. Importantly, there will be no mandatory requirement for students to sit for both sessions. Furthermore, the best score attained by the students will be incorporated into their mark sheet. This holistic approach aims to alleviate the undue burden of exam stress on students, heralding a new era in board examinations.