CBSE Board Exams 2025: Key Updates for Students and Educators
As the CBSE Board Exams 2025 approach, students, parents, and educators are preparing for a significant milestone in academic life. This year brings several notable updates aimed at improving the examination process, making it more student-friendly, transparent, and focused on conceptual understanding.
One of the biggest changes is the reduction in the number of short and long answer questions. CBSE is moving away from rote memorisation to assess students’ grasp of concepts better. The exam papers will now focus more on competency-based questions, designed to test how well students can apply their knowledge in practical, real-life scenarios. For class 10, 50% of the questions will be competency-based, which remains unchanged from previous years, while for class 12, the percentage rises to 50%, up from 40%. These questions may include various forms, such as multiple-choice questions, case studies, and integrated source-based questions, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in students.
Another major update is the enhanced weightage for internal assessments, which now account for 40% of the total marks. This reflects the importance of regular projects, assignments, and tests conducted throughout the year in the final evaluation. The remaining 60% will come from the main board exams. This shift helps create a more holistic evaluation system where continuous learning and performance truly matter.
To maintain academic discipline and encourage regular attendance, students must now have a minimum of 75% attendance in their schools to be eligible to sit for the board exams. This rule ensures consistent engagement and preparation throughout the academic year.
Students involved in national or international sports events and Olympiads will get special provisions to avoid clashes with exam dates, allowing them to take exams at alternate times if necessary. This thoughtful approach acknowledges the diverse talents of students beyond academics.
Security measures for the 2025 exams have been significantly strengthened. Exam centres will have biometric authentication, fingerprint scanning, and facial recognition to ensure the authenticity of candidates. Additionally, CCTV cameras and live streaming systems will be used for real-time monitoring at selected centres, which aim to curb malpractices and boost the credibility of exams.
For administrative efficiency, CBSE has opened a new sub-regional office in Agartala, which will support schools and students from the northeastern region, ensuring better coordination and support during exams.
The exams are scheduled to begin on February 15, 2025, for both Class 10 and Class 12 students, with Class 10 exams concluding on March 18 and Class 12 exams ending on April 4. Practical exams will start earlier in January. Results are expected to be declared by July 2025.
CBSE has also introduced new answer sheets featuring unique QR codes for each student to minimise cheating and ensure transparency during evaluation. Sample question papers and marking schemes have been released on the official website to help students align their preparation with the updated exam pattern.
Overall, CBSE’s 2025 board exam reforms prioritise student wellbeing, fairness, and STEM Education skill development. The emphasis on competency-based questions, continuous internal assessments, and advanced security measures demonstrates the Board’s commitment to evolving with educational needs and preparing students for future challenges in academics and beyond. Staying updated with these changes will help students approach the exams confidently and with a clear strategy for success.
