The state secondary education board has asked schools to hold the test examinations from December 13 to 24 on campus.
The board on Wednesday asked the heads of the institutions to send the question papers immediately after the completion of each day of examination for incorporating the questions in the test papers that would be published by the board.
A notice signed by the board president Kalyanmoy Ganguli says: “The question paper pattern of Madhyamik Pariksha 2022 must be followed in preparation of question papers of the selection test for Class X.”
On August 24, the board had announced a blueprint on the next year’s board exams, providing details on chapter/ topic-wise questions and marks in each subject factoring in 30 to 35 per cent reduction in the syllabus necessitated by the Covid pandemic.
The schools have been asked to follow this pattern while setting the questions for tests so the students get an idea about the board exams (Madhyamik), said a board official.
Last year the test exams could not be held because of the pandemic, which also ensured the cancellation of the board exams in June this year.
Saudipta Das, the general secretary of the collegium of assistant headmasters and headmistresses, said while the test examinations were usually held to screen the candidates who would be eligible to write the board exams, this year it would be held to identify the deficiencies among students who were unable to attend the online classes because of lack of smart devices or poor network. “Test will help schools identify the weak students... and prepare them by holding remedial classes for the board exams, due in April,” said Das.
Sougata Basu, the general secretary of the government school teachers’ association, said: “Writing the tests is crucial because these students have not written any exams since March 2020. When they were in Class IX last year, the summative tests could not be held because of the pandemic and they were promoted to Class X straightaway.”
“So it is a must that these students write a test before appearing for the board exams to get themselves prepared. Besides, if the board fails to hold Madhyamik next year because of the pandemic again, then the marks of the test could help in preparing the grade card,” he added.
