Several ISC schools are planning to have the practical examination in December and complete what is left by the second week of January.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has asked schools affiliated with it to schedule the practical examination between October 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024.
Conducting most of the practicals in December would help students concentrate on the theory papers in January and they would get enough practical lessons till December, said heads of several schools in the city.
"We intend to start the practical exams by the last week of November and complete them by December. This would help us to space the exams out because we also have to conduct the pre-board examination," said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Day School Elliot Road.
Gomes Surana said the bulk of the pre-board examination would be scheduled in January while some would be held in December.
After the Puja vacations, principals and teachers in several ISC schools have conducted meetings regarding the practical examination.
To schedule a date schools also have to check the availability of the examiners who would come to a school to conduct the tests.
"Teachers have to check with schools in their area about each other's availability to schedule the dates for the practical examination. But we would want to do it in December," said Terence John, principal, Julien Day School Kalyani.
Till 2020, the practical examination used to be conducted just before the start of the theory papers. This changed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The four-month window is giving schools more time and flexibility to conduct the practical examination said teachers. Not everybody needs to have it simultaneously.
"We will complete our syllabus by November and then conduct the practical examinations in December. By then students would have had enough practical classes too," said Satabdi Bhattacharjee, principal, South City International School.
Conducting in October- November is not feasible in most schools because schools close for Puja and Diwali break.
In November, many schools are busy preparing for sports and concerts.
"This is the Class XII students' last year in school and we want them to take part in school activities too," said Gomes Surana.
Some schools like St James' School and The Heritage School plan to have the practical exam in January.
"We will complete the pre boards in December and conduct the practicals in January," said Seema Sapru, principal of The Heritage School.
Terence Ireland principal of St James' School said that the bulk of their pre-board examination will be completed by December before the winter break.