Discontinuation of the publication of Blue Prints, Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes in all major subjects in classes IX-X w.e.f. academic session 2012-13 Summative Assessment-II.
The CBSE used to issue Blue Prints ,Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes in all major subjects in classes IX and X to provide a model template to serve as a guide for entailing uniformity in assessment, proper coverage of the curricula and validity (and therefore reliability) of assessment. However it has been noticed that a large section of students and examiners punctiliously follow these documents which results in precluding much advocated open ended approach and diversity in expression, style and content. The blue print further micro-categorizes items into difficult, average and easy with specific allotment of marks to each category which again limits the framing of a particular type of question from a particular topic/chapter. Moreover the release of Blue prints and the Sample Question Papers indirectly promotes 'teaching to the test'.
In order to address the above issues and to further discourage the practice of "teaching to the test", the Board has decided to discontinue the practice of providing Blue Print, Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes in classes IX and X w.e.f. Summative Assessment-II of 2012-13. The weightings in the revised format will be assigned to entire units as mentioned in the curriculum as an alternative of chapter wise weighting given earlier. There will be a more flexible design or structure of assessment instead of a detailed blue print which used to divide the curriculum into exceedingly narrower parts. The structure of assessment will also be supplemented with a pool of exemplar items in each subject.
This will be in effect from the Summative Assessment-II of the current academic year i.e. 201213 in all the main subjects and therefore the Summative Assessment -II, 2013 for classes IX & X scheduled to be held in the month of March, 2013, will not be based on blue prints and Sample Questions Papers. The SA-II will rather follow a more comprehensive structure of examination and flexible patterns.
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