Cancellation of Examinations for 12th Grade in India- my personal views

The cancellation of the 12th Grade exams in India, and its related issues.

While the COVID19 Pandemic is still ranging, and there are speculations of a third wave, where it is said children will be more vulnerable, my personal opinion is that it is the right decision. In case exams were to happen, it can become a super spreader and children come to school, so do teachers, where both parties are vulnerable to infection, and they may even carry it home to their families - Parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, friends, etc. Some of them attend coaching centers and private tuitions, which can also be a vulnerable point of infection spreading.

With such a large number of students taking the 12th Grade exam, is it worth the risk? My personal opinion is that it was wise to postpone the 12th-grade Examination and currently provide the Grades on the basis of Internal Assessment and Laboratory assessments. It was also said that, optionally, after a couple of months (can't predict), if everything returns to normal, such students who are not satisfied with the Internal Assessment marks can take the Board Examination.

Would that not be chaotic? A few of them having been given the opportunity to reject their Internal Assessment Grades and a few of them allowed to take board exams later. From Question Authoring to Paper setting, to delivery of exams will be a logistics nightmare. In the end, it is not a level-playing ground. Some of the children move on based on internal Assessment, and a few have the privilege of opting for Board exams later - When? Anybody'd guess.

There was a suggestion of why cannot the exam be a collection of objective questions, and all of them scored on the same basis.

I happen to run an Edtech business, particularly strong in the areas of delivering secure online exams, globally. If one wants to do a good job of this, it takes several months of preparation. Goof objective type of questions is more difficult for an author when compared to traditional questions and question papers. The process is lengthy and the process could take several months if it has to be a good job. Authoring of questions involves both subject matter experts and Psychometricians. Evan objective questions are of several types, last known to me, there are 50+ question types. The "options" for multiple-choice questions, actually called "distractors" should be carefully chosen. As the name suggests that are meant to distract you in selecting the right answer. There is more to authoring questions, particularly if it has been for an adaptive test like GMAT or GRE or SAT.

And then it is time to construct question pools, question banks, and the process flow continues to use an algorithm for actually constructing a test, delivering it, marking it, etc.

Technically we are handling large data, a lot of analytics to be performed before the results are announced. This is easily a 6 months process, as otherwise, it will be a namesake exam. To deliver such large-scale tests also has to ensure security, robust software application, and APP. More importantly available of the user end computing device of the right configuration both the hardware configuration and the software stack, even though the test-taking could happen on a browser. Do we have inclusivity of Devices and good internet availability, to ensure the tests are comprehensively inclusive?

To take CBSE exams online, in my personal opinion is a complicated and huge task.

It is best we deal with reconfiguring the HE admission processes, particularly where competitive exams are not available at present. Should not be challenging.

It may be a good idea for CBSE to establish counseling facilities online. for parents and students to obtain clarifications, in addition to a comprehensive FAQ.

Strange and tough times call for tough measures keeping the safety of our citizens the foremost. We have to adapt to the circumstances for this year.

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