CBSE May Introduce Major Assessment Changes for 2025–26: What Students Should Expect

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is reportedly working on a fresh assessment strategy for the 2025–26 academic year, and early discussions suggest a significant shift in how students will be evaluated in Classes 9 to 12. Although the official circular is yet to be released, several senior officials have indicated that CBSE is aligning its upcoming plan more closely with competency-based learning under the National Education Policy (NEP).

What May Change?

Officials familiar with internal discussions say the board is considering updates in three major areas:

1. Weightage Distribution
The board may reduce emphasis on rote-based long-answer questions and increase focus on:

  • Case studies

  • Real-life applications

  • Analytical questions

  • Data-based reasoning

2. Practical and Internal Assessments
CBSE is exploring the possibility of raising the internal assessment component—especially for science and commerce streams—to encourage continuous evaluation rather than year-end pressure.

3. Sample Question Formats
More practice papers and sample formats are expected to be released early, helping students adapt to structural changes without confusion.

Why This Matters

The NEP 2020 has repeatedly stressed “learning how to think rather than what to think.” If CBSE goes ahead with these changes, students will have to adjust their preparation styles, focusing more on understanding concepts rather than memorizing chapters.

How Students Should Prepare Now

  • Strengthen conceptual clarity

  • Practice case-study questions

  • Join school-level projects and practical work

  • Avoid last-minute mugging

These changes, if implemented, will likely push India’s school education system closer to global assessment standards.

External Authoritative Links

(Official and credible sources related to CBSE and education policy)

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