What is CBSE’s New Pattern of Questions for class 9-12? What are competency-based questions?
First, I will tell you why are competency-based questions introduced by CBSE for class 9th to 12th?
To break the habit of rote learning CBSE has come up with a new type of question format for class 9th to 12th. It will help to boost the IQ of students to enable them to compete with international students.
Now we come to the first question – what is competency-based questions. CBSE will assess the students of class 9th to 12th on the basis of the application of concepts in real life or unfamiliar situation. CBSE has termed this new type competency-based questions.
How will these questions look like?
These questions will also be asked as MCQ, short and long answer questions as usual but these would not be directly related to the story of the lesson. Explore First Flight lesson wise questions here.
Now onwards reading lesson summary would not do the work. Students have to read the lesson thoroughly, word by word, to grasp it in a proper way.
Can you give an example of competency-based questions?
If you are still unclear about this new concept, let’s understand it with the help of some examples. These questions will be related to your lesson but these are not given in the lesson itself. For example in class 10 English ‘First Flight’ a character Lencho from lesson 1 ‘A letter to God’ writes a letter to God asking for money after his crops are damaged by a hailstorm.
You may be asked real life-based questions here, which may look like- what would you have done if you were in place of Lencho?
The story does not tell the readers about the reaction of Lencho’s wife after the help-seeking letter incident but the examiner might ask you – Write a conversation between Lencho and his wife after he comes back from the post office. OR
Do you think Amanda was a rude child? How would you react if your mobile phone is lost? Read First Flight Class 10 New question pattern here.
How would competency based questions judge the students expertise?
According to you what would be the reaction of Lencho’s wife after he comes back from the post office? This answer will judge your home environment, the involvement of ladies in household matters, your personal views on Lencho’s writing a letter to God, your communication skills and of course your English writing skills.
As these questions do not have a standard answer, every student needs to write down his or her own answer based on personal knowledge and skill. This way students will learn things in real life and stop cramming the age-old questions which just asked- who is ‘I’ in these lines? Who was Nelson Mandela? Why the boy was crying? with which toy the boy was playing (The ball poem)?
I know that it will be difficult for the first two to three years. When I saw CBSE question bank for the first time I thought I have been given B.A. English honours’ questions. But don’t worry, a new concept takes some time to settle into a habit.
I expect CBSE would issue new teaching aids for teachers also so that they can explain this concept to students. Especially, I am worried about the students studying in the government schools, where the level of English language is just pathetic. Some of them don’t even understand the difference between ‘pan’ and ‘pen’. Therefore, I am trying to help the students by explaining this concept in Hindi through an absolutely free YouTube channel ‘Homework Help By RG’ and the website essayshout.com. I hope it reaches every student of class 10th who cannot afford to study at premium coaching centres.