The Patliputra Sahodaya has announced dates for Summative Assessment II examination in classes IX and X.

There are two summative assessments in classes IX and X of 30 marks each. C.B. Singh, the secretary of Patliputra Sahodaya, said: 'We have made the schedule and have circulated it to the heads of the CBSE schools. Examination for both the classes will start from March 11.'

Class IX students would take mathematics examination on March 11, communicative English on March 13, science on March 17, social science on March 20, Hindi/Sanskrit on March 23 and fundamentals of information technology on March 25.

Class X students would take science exam on March 11, Hindi/Sanskrit on March 13, social studies on March 17, mathematics on March 20, communicative English on March 23 and fundamentals of information technology on March 25.

There are two Sahodayas in Bihar. There are 168 schools under Patliputra Sahodaya and less than 20 under the Gaya Sahodaya.

Patliputra Sahodaya secretary C.B. Singh said: 'The summative examinations are for students who opt for school based examination.'

Recently, after the CBSE declared that there is no difference in the results of the board-based and school-based exams on analysis of data of the past two years. However, the number of students opting for school-based exam has come down after the state government insisted that only students who cleared CBSE's board-based exam are eligible to seek admission in Class XI state syllabus schools.

Parents prefer their children to opt for board examination. 'The students take school-based examination casually. Boards compel them to work hard and study seriously. My son has opted for board examination,' said Anima Singh, whose son is a Class X student of International School.

The students, too, are in favour of taking board examination over school-based papers. Tanvi Singh, a student of Radiant International, said: 'I have opted for board examination because it helps you know where you stand at national level. School-based examination restrict students to school-level competition.'

Teachers also suggest their students to opt for board examination. 'I ask my students to opt for board examination as it develops competitiveness and responsibility among them,' Sanjay Joseph, a teacher St Michael's high School said.