Patna, July 6: The optional proficiency test for CBSE Class X passouts, which is supposed to help students decide on their career, has begun. But students and parents feel that it might be too late to do them any good.

The tests, which are being conducted for the first time this year, began on July 4. They will go on till July 8.

The Class X passouts taking the exam feel that it is too late to help them make career decisions. Majority of them have selected their stream for the next two years and are unlikely to make any changes.

The CBSE Class X results were declared on June 10. Most of the schools have finished the Plus Two admission process.

Subjects like English, Hindi, mathematics, sciences and social science have been included in the curriculum for the proficiency test. The students can choose subjects they want to take up in the examination.

Rashmi, a student who had opted to take the test, said: “The proficiency test is of no use to us now. Most of my friends and I have taken admission in Class XI. I had decided to take the test because I thought it would help me to choose the stream that I am most suited for. But that did not happen.”

A CBSE official said: “The proficiency test will be conducted in subjects like mathematics, science, Hindi, English and social science. Patna has four examination centres for the tests. Around 156 students will take the test at St Michael’s High School, 140 at Loyola High School, 244 at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Danapur, and 314 at Army School, Danapur Cantonment.”

The official added that these centres were only for the students of Patna. Students in other places of the state would have to take the exams at other centres.

Kumari Priti, a student who has opted to take the test in mathematics, science and English, is of the same opinion as Rashmi.

She said: “The test is of no use to me now as I have already taken admission in Class XI. Whatever I am studying at present is according to the syllabus of Class XI. What we will be asked in the proficiency test will be from the syllabus of Class X. If the test had been conducted earlier and the results declared on time, it would have helped me a lot to choose my stream as well as my career.”

Another student said: “What is the use of the test now? Admissions for Class XI are all over. Now, there is no need for us to know which subject would suit us the best, as we have already opted for various streams.”

Parents too are of the same opinion.

Ranju Singh, mother of a CBSE passout, said: “The proficiency test will not be of much help for students this year because most of them have taken admissions in Class XI. If this test had been conducted earlier and the results declared before the admission to Class XI, it could have been very helpful.

“The only benefit that students will get from this test is the certificate they will be awarded.”

The deputy director of CBSE, Patna region, K.K. Jain, said: “The proficiency test has nothing to do with the Class X examinations. It just is to check the proficiency of the students in various subjects.”

M.C. Sharma, controller of examination, CBSE, had earlier said: “This proficiency test has nothing to do with the board results. It is optional. Around 10 lakh students from all over India took the Class X boards this year. But only 75,000 opted for the proficiency test.”

The board has, however, charged between Rs 200 and Rs 600 from the students for the test, depending on the number of subjects they have chosen to take the test in.