The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced sweeping reforms for the 2025 board examinations, ushering bateryapp.in in a more application‑based and student‑friendly assessment system. Exams for Class 10 and Class 12 are scheduled to begin on February 15, 2025, with Class 10 ending by March 18 and Class 12 concluding on April 4.
One of the most significant changes is in the nature of exam questions: there will be a strong focus on competency‑based questions (CBQs) — including multiple‑choice, case-based, and source-based formats — designed to test students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts.
In parallel, CBSE has raised the weight of internal assessments (projects, periodic tests, assignments) to 40%, leaving 60% for the final board exams. This is a substantial shift from traditional evaluation methods, emphasizing ongoing evaluation rather than a single high-stakes exam.
There are also stricter attendance requirements — students must maintain at least 75% attendance to be eligible to sit for these exams. Moreover, CBSE is boosting exam integrity by introducing biometric authentication, including fingerprint scanning and face-matching at exam centers.
Echoing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CBSE is also planning to bring back two‑term board exams from 2026. Students will get two opportunities each year — the first mandatory and the second optional — with the best score being retained.
These reforms aim to reduce exam-related stress, encourage deeper learning, and align the board system more closely with real-world skills.
