Biannual Board Exams: A Necessary Reform or an Added Burden?

Biannual Board Exams: A Necessary Reform or an Added Burden?

Board Exams in India: A High-Stakes Event

Board exams in India create a unique and intense atmosphere. The entire country is on high alert—exam centres, teachers, schools, coaching institutes, flying squad teams, and students all focus their efforts on this crucial event. After a year of rigorous preparation under the guidance of teachers, students approach the exams with a mix of confidence and anxiety. Educators do their best to ensure students perform well, but the stress remains undeniable.

With CBSE proposing to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year, a critical question arises: Will this reduce stress, or will it double the burden on students and institutions?

Advantages of Biannual Board Exams

1. More Opportunities for Improvement
• Students get a second chance to improve their scores without waiting a year.
• Reduces the pressure of performing perfectly in a single attempt.
2. Less Exam Stress Per Attempt
• With two exams, students may feel less overwhelmed than a single high-stakes test.
• Allows students to focus on smaller portions of the syllabus in each attempt.
3. Reduces the Impact of a Bad Day
• If a student performs poorly due to illness or anxiety, they have another chance to prove themselves.
4. Better Time Management
• Encourages students to maintain consistency in studies rather than relying on last-minute preparation.
5. Flexibility for Students
• Those satisfied with their first attempt can skip the second exam.
• Reduces the need for excessive pressure on a single exam date.

Disadvantages of Biannual Board Exams

1. Increased Academic Pressure
• Instead of reducing stress, having two board exams may result in year-round exam pressure.
• Schools and coaching centres may expect students to prepare for both attempts, leading to continuous stress.
2. More Financial and Administrative Burden
• Schools, teachers, and examination boards will need more resources for conducting and evaluating two sets of exams.
• Additional infrastructure, invigilators, and exam centres will be required, increasing operational costs.
3. Encourages Exam-Oriented Learning
• More exams might reinforce rote memorization instead of conceptual learning.
• The focus may remain on scoring marks rather than developing skills and knowledge.
4. Reduces Time for Skill Development
• Continuous exam preparation leaves little time for extracurricular activities, project-based learning, and skill-building.
• Students may miss out on practical learning experiences in favour of test preparation.
5. Risk of Creating Inequality
• Students from well-funded schools may benefit more from additional exam opportunities than those in under-resourced schools.
• Private coaching centres may take advantage of frequent exams, increasing pressure on students to enroll in extra classes.

 The Way Forward: Beyond Exam Frequency

While biannual board exams may help students improve their scores, increasing exam frequency is not a comprehensive solution. Instead, competency-based assessments, AI-driven adaptive evaluations, and real-world skill development should become the foundation of modern education.

The real question is: Do we want an education system that reinforces memorization twice a year or one that nurtures lifelong learning and practical competencies?

The choice we make today will shape the future of education for millions of students. It's time to focus on holistic development, skill-building, and stress-free learning rather than simply increasing the number of exams.