The Central Board of Secondary Education has laid more stress on subjective answers than objective ones this year, giving nightmares to Class XII students about to sit for their school-leaving examinations in less than a fortnight.

According to sample papers released late last month, the students would have less objective questions to answer and no choice for six-mark questions. It is a change from the past two years when students had to write shorter answers with the opportunity to score more.

Rashmi Shrivastava, a student of Don Bosco Academy, said: 'Changes are always hard and this is a very big change. If the changes were announced in December, it would have been easier for us to accommodate to them and prepare accordingly. Now, I am working twice as hard.' to score well in the examinations.'

In its changes, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has reduced the number of questions and made the marking pattern subjective. For instance, political science paper would have 27 questions instead of the earlier 31 questions and mathematics would have three questions less than the 29 students had to choose from in previous years. Economics and business studies papers would also have three and five questions, respectively, less than other years.

But with this change, the board has also cut down on questions carrying up to one-three marks. In its place, five-marks questions have been added. The students would also have no choice on long questions carrying six marks.

The students came to know about the changes when the sample papers were released late January. The exam-bound children were gearing up for objective questions only to change course mid-way.

Sourabh Das, a student of St Karen's High School, said: 'Other years, sample papers were released in December but this time, we got the papers at the end of January. Till January, I had been practising for the mathematics exam according to the old question pattern. Now, I wonder what would be the five-marks questions.'

Suraj Kumar, a student of Patna Central School, has lost sleep thanks to the sudden change effected by the board. 'I am studying 16 hours a day but am scared about the questions I am likely to face.'

Principals and teachers have just one advice. Relax and focus on studies, you'll find the questions easy.

Vice-principal of Patna Central School Om Prakash Singh said: 'Less than two weeks are left for the exams to start so we have suggested the students to consider the new question pattern. Such changes are always made based on the subject committee recommendations. Our work is to inform the students and prepare them. The average and below average students would find the changes difficult to adapt to but they should take help of the online counselling sessions to reduce anxiety.'

The CBSE has launched a counselling session to help Class X and XII students cope with the stress of their upcoming board exams. It has launched multiple modes of communication to help the students cope with exam-related anxiety. The facility started on February 2 and started on February 2 and will conclude on April 20 - the last day of the CBSE Class XII examinations.

Father Peter Arockiasamy, the principal of St Michael’s High School, although said: “These abrupt changes will definitely affect the students but the questions will not be asked out of syllabus. If the students are well prepared, they’ll find the papers easy.”