Bhubaneswar, Nov. 19: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has decided to model the question papers for Class XII board examination on the lines of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from 2018.

"Specimen question papers for the ISC (Class XI and XII) 2018 for physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics have been prepared on the lines of the CBSE. The specimen papers deal with questions on recall, understanding, application, analysis and evaluation," said Gerry Arathoon, chief executive & secretary, CISCE.

After reviewing its prescribed syllabi at the ISC (Classes XI and XII) and ICSE (Classes IX and X) levels, the council has decided to re-organise the units in the existing syllabi for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology in Classes XI and XII so that class-wise coverage of units in the ISC syllabus is in alignment with the CBSE syllabus. This will be introduced from 2018 for ISC exams, said Arathoon who is in Bhubaneswar to attend the 58th annual general meeting of Association of Schools for the Indian School Certificate (ASISC).

At the ISC level, the council is already following the Common Core Curriculum, prescribed by the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE), for mathematics, science and commerce stream subjects.

The overall coverage of topics in the existing syllabi for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology at the ISC level is similar to that of the CBSE and the Common Core Curriculum of the COBSE.

"The council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations reviews its prescribed syllabi periodically so as to ensure that they are at par with that of the other boards and also to meet the requirements of various competitive examinations," said Arathoon.

In addition to the above, unit-wise weightage of marks will be indicated in the syllabi for the above subjects, in accordance with the content and significance of the units.

At the ICSE level, too, syllabi for history and civics, geography, mathematics and physics have been reviewed for 2018.

"The objective of these reviews was to ensure that in addition to conforming to present day educational trends, the syllabus continues to remain relevant, flexible and meaningful," Arathoon said.

This apart, the break-up of marks of the theory and practical components at the ISC level, for computer science, fashion designing, physical education, Indian music (Hindustani), Indian music (Carnatic) and Western music in Class XII has also been revised.

The existing mark break-up of 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent practical has now been changed to 70 per cent theory and 30 per cent practical, in order that these subjects be considered as elective subjects.