Strengthening Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in Class IX

1. The Central CBSE Board of Secondary Education introduced Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation in Primary classes in 2004 (Circular No. 5/18/25/04). The achievement records and its format was also circulated for Classes I to V with the objective of facilitating holistic learning in the school. The focus was on identifying the talents of the learner and empowering with positive inputs. The CBSE Board recommended a five Point rating scale, it also recommended the elimination of the pass /fail system at the primary classes (Circular No. 31/04/21/05). The CBSE Board has also followed it up by extending this scheme upto Classes VI to VIII and developed a CCE card on School Based Assessment for the same (Circular No. 2/06).

2. The scheme of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) will be now further strengthened in all affiliated schools from October 2009. The Class IX students will be assessed through the CCE by the school itself. The strengthened CCE scheme will be applicable for the second term (October 2009 – March 2010) of the current academic year in Class IX.

3.         In general, for the purpose of the CCE, an academic year has been divided into two terms. The first term will be from April – September and the second term from October – March.

4. The CCE in classes IX & X is intended to provide holistic profile of the learner through evaluation of both Scholastic and Co-Scholastic areas spread over two terms each during two academic years.

4.1 Evaluation of Scholastic areas:

Each term will have two Formative assessments and one Summative assessment for evaluation of Scholastic areas.

4.1.1 Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment is a tool used by the teacher to continuously monitor student progress in a non­threatening and supportive environment. If used effectively it can improve student performance tremendously while raising the self esteem of the child and reducing the work load of the teacher. Some of the main features of Formative assessment are that it is diagnostic and remedial, provides effective

feedback to students, allows for the active involvement of students in their own learning, enables teachers to adjust teaching to take account of the results of assessment and recognizes the profound influence that assessment has on the motivation and self-esteem of students, both of which are crucial influences in learning.

It is highly recommended that the school should not restrict the Formative Assessment to only a paper-pencil test. There are other means of testing such as through quizzes, conversations, interviews, oral testing, visual testing, projects, practicals and assignments.

For this year there will be only two Formative assessments for Class IX for the (remaining)

second term.

It is advised that the Schools may conduct more than two such assessments and take the best

two out of those.

Assessments done periodically will be shown to the students/ parents so as to encourage continuous

participatory improvement.

4.1.2 Summative Assessment:

The Summative assessment is the terminal assessment of performance at the end of instruction. Under the end term Summative assessment, the students will be tested internally based on the following criteria:­

a) Curriculum and Syllabus for Classes IX will be the same as circulated by the CBSE Board earlier.

b) The Summative assessment will be in the form of a pen-paper test conducted by the schools themselves. It will be conducted at the end of each term.

c) In order to ensure standardisation, and to ensure uniformity, the Question Banks in different subjects to generate question papers will be forwarded by the CBSE Board to Schools in March 2010.

d) In order to cater to difference in the pace of responding, the Schools will give flexible timing to the students during end term Summative Assessment.

e) For this year, there will be only one term end Summative Assessment for the (remaining) second term to be conducted in March 2010 for Class IX students.

f) Evaluation of answer scripts will be done by the school Teachers themselves on the basis of the Marking Scheme provided by the CBSE Board.

g) There will be random verification of the assessments procedures carried on by schools by the CBSE Board officials/nominees appointed by the CBSE Board.

The Weightage of Formative Assessment (FA) and Summative Assessment (SA) shall be as follows:

Note: For this year as the scheme is being introduced from the Second Term only, the weightage of each Formative Assessment shall be 20% and that of Summative Assessment shall be 60%.

4.2 Evaluation of Co-Scholastic areas:

4.2.1    In addition to the Scholastic areas, co-scholastic areas like Life Skills; Attitudes & Values; Participation & Achievement in activities involving Literary & Creative Skills, Scientific Skills, Aesthetic Skills and Performing Arts & Clubs; and Health & Physical Education will also be evaluated.Most of the schools are already implementing activities involving these areas. The schools have been trained under Adolescence Education Programme (AEP), emphasising upon Life Skills; the schools are also aware about Comprehensive School Health Programme introduced in 2006 (Circular No. 9/06/29/07, 27&48/ 08). However, for ready reference and convenience of the schools, the activities under Co-Scholastic areas and evaluation thereof are also included in the comprehensive guidelines on various aspects of CCE (Refer Para 5 below).

5. This year, the students in Class IX will follow the CCE for the second term only as already stated above. For this, the schools will give the Report Card on the model format to be supplied by the CBSE Board in its guidelines. This Report Card will reflect both Formative and Summative assessment of second term of Class IX in scholastic as well as co-scholastic areas.

6. Comprehensive guidelines on various aspects of CCE will be available in the Teachers’ Manual on School Based Assessment shortly. This will also be hosted on the CBSE website (www.cbse.nic.in)

7. This scheme will continue for further academic sessions also.

B.         Class IX - 2010 – 11 Academic Session onwards

These students will undergo the CCE as described above spread over two terms, one from April 2010 to September 2010 and the second from October 2010 to March 2011. As already detailed in Para

4.1.1 and 4.1.2, the Formative Assessment will be part of School Based Assessment and Summative Assessment at the end of each term will be based on the Question Banks being sent by the CBSE Board.

C. Class X - 2009 – 10 Academic Session

1. All students of Class X in the current academic year will be taking the CBSE CBSE Board’s Class X 2010 Examination. The CBSE will be conducting this Examination.

2. The weightage of the School Based Assessment will remain the same as per past practice, i.e. 20% each in the subjects of Science, Social Science and Mathematics

3. The new Grading system will be introduced at Secondary School level (for Classes IX & X) effective from 2009-10 Academic Session. The details of grading scheme will be circulated in a separate advisory to schools

4. The syllabus and examination specifications in all subjects remain as reflected in Secondary School Curriculum Document 2010 (printed by the CBSE Board) with minor modifications as notified to schools through circulars during the current session. The Curriculum Document and the circulars are available on the CBSE website (www.cbse.nic.in).

D. Class X- Academic Session 2010-11 onwards

1. Senior Secondary Schools

In Senior Secondary Schools, there will be no CBSE Board examination at Class X since the students will be entering Class XI in the same school.

These students will be assessed through the CCE internally by the school as per the strengthened CCE Scheme as described above for Class IX (for the second term from October 2009 to March 2010) and Class X (for two terms, the first term from April 2010 to September 2010 and the second from October March 2011).

At the end of the academic year 2010-11, students will be issued the CCE certificate on the pre-printed stationery to be supplied by the CBSE Board. These CCE certificates, once they are complete in all respects,

(for both Class IX and X) will be required to be sent to the Regional Offices for the signatures of the CBSE Board official.

However the CBSE Board will provide flexibility to the following students in Senior Secondary Schools also to appear in CBSE Board’s external (pen and paper written/online) examination (described separately below):­

•  The students wanting to terminate their studies in the school for admission in Pre-University, vocational course, etc.

•  The students wanting to shift to the other schools of other State CBSE Boards due to local reasons.

Moreover, those students who wish to assess themselves vis-à-vis their peers or for self motivation will be allowed to appear in an On Demand (pen and paper/online) Proficiency test.

2. Secondary Schools:

In all schools upto secondary level there will be CBSE Board’s external (pen and paper written/on-line) Examination at the end of Class X as detailed in para 3 below since the students will be moving out of these schools.

Note: The students in Classes IX and X in Secondary Schools also will follow the CCE as described above. At the end of the Class X, students will be issued the CCE certificates on the pre-printed stationery supplied by the CBSE Board.

3. External (pen and paper written/online) Examination

•  These mainly application oriented external (pen and paper written/ online) Examinations will be based on the same syllabi as detailed in the Curriculum Document 2011.

• These will be certified by the CBSE.

• Concessions being given to the Differently Abled

All the relaxations such as use of scribe for visually challenged, choice of optional subjects, use of computers for visually challenged being provided the present CBSE Board Examinations of Class X to the differently-abled children need to be continued in the School Based Assessment also, at the formative as well as Summative level. Due consideration will also be given to these students in co-scholastic evaluation too.

F. Aptitude Test

1. The CBSE Board will offer an Aptitude Test (optional) which along with other School records and CCE would help the students, parents and teachers in deciding the choice of the subjects at Class XI.

2. The CBSE Board proposes to provide an opportunity to students to undertake the Aptitude Test twice, once at the end of Class IX and then at the end of Class X.

G. Admission in Class XI (Academic Session 2011 – 12)

1. For the purpose of admission in Class XI the CCE certificate will be relied upon.

2. It is also recommended that some amount of weightage be assigned to the co-scholastic aspects especially Life Skills and excellence in sports for allotting subjects in class XI. A multi-pronged approach for assigning subjects needs to be adopted. Aptitude Test, Scholastic Performance and Co-Scholastic Achievements, all need to be given weightage.

3. Students of the same School may be given preference over the students coming from any other School for admission in Class XI.