CBSE Class 10,12 Changes: Syllabus Reduces By 15%, Open Book Exams And 40% Weightage To Internal Assessment

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the Class 10 and 12 board exams 2025 syllabus and exam pattern changes at the principal’s summit in Indore. As per the announcement, the syllabus for classes 10 and 12 has been reduced by up to 15%. The decision aims to support in-depth learning and reduce rote memorization.

While making the announcement, Vikas Kumar Agarwal, the CBSE Bhopal regional officer said that the decision to cut back the syllabus aligns with the board’s evolving framework to provide enough space for students to explore the topics deeply and comprehensively.

Read also: Bihar Board Reopens Class 12 Registration Window Till Nov 17

Another major advancement is that the weightage for internal assessments has increased to 40% and the remaining 60% will be based on the final board exams. The internal assessment includes projects, assignments, and periodic tests to promote a more balanced and continuous evaluation system.

Also, the CBSE revising its exam pattern aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 which prioritizes practical knowledge and skill-based education. In the 2025 board exams, nearly half of the question paper will be based on real-life applications instead of theoretical knowledge alone. It aims to encourage critical thinking, real-world problem-solving skills, and moving away from traditional rote learning.

Read also: LG Recommends AAP Govt To Raise Income Limit To Rs 5 Lakh For EWS Category In Delhi Schools

CBSE plans to introduce an open-book examination format for select subjects including English literature and Social Sciences. This will help students to look through textbooks during exams and enhance their analytical skills and understanding of concepts. To increase transparency and accuracy, CBSE will continue implementing digital assessment of answer sheets in selected subjects. The digital assessment has reduced the risk of errors and helped in ensuring a more efficient and transparent evaluation process.

Additionally, For 2025 there is a single term board exam strucutre and from the academic session 2025-26 the two term format will be reintroduced.