The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced its new two-exam policy for the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams in the academic session 2021-22. The two-exam policy has rippled dissatisfaction and worry among the student community. A major concern sits in the minds of students who wish to pursue their higher education abroad – that this new policy may create some serious time management issues.
COVID-19 greatly impacted the current and last academic session in schools with academic authorities struggling to manage examination schedules. The exponential surge in coronavirus cases earlier this year led the government to cancel the board exams for Class 10 and Class 12 for the academic year 2020-21 and students were assessed based on an objective criterion developed by the board.
Bearing in mind the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, CBSE has devised a bifurcated two-exam policy for Class 10 and Class 12 for the current academic session. However, students are fretting over the pressure of taking the board examination twice and its impact on their results. A major challenge posed by this new two-term examination pattern is for the students who wish to pursue their higher studies abroad.
How does the new system impact students planning to study abroad? There is no uniform impact that we are talking about here. As country timelines for international students’ admissions differ, so will the impact based on this difference in the admission system. Here is what students need to factor in if they are planning to study abroad in the USA, UK or Canada.
Applying to the UK, US, and Canadian universities?
Previous to this arrangement of two-term examinations and before the uncertainties brought in by the ongoing pandemic, study abroad UG aspirants used to get ample time to work around their admissions application to foreign universities. The gap between the board exams and admission procedures would provide them with the required breather to glide through the application process and prepare their LORs and essays. However, now with the new two-exam policy, students will need to juggle between taking exams and applying to universities abroad.
For example, students applying to the US universities had enough time previously, for early action and early decision (early-November) as well as for regular applications, the deadline of which is in January. They could focus on deciding the destination country and the list of colleges they wish to apply for. It provided them with the opportunity to solely focus on their applications.
But now, students applying to the US universities must start doing so from January or February onwards, and with their scores in hand, as universities may require these scores to be presented. For UK and Canada applicants, the essay and other criteria should be completed by the deadline i.e. January 15.
What do students need to do?
The decision by the board to split the term into two mini terms is with the intent to maneuver through the crisis without having to compromise the future of students. CBSE also cleared the doubts of fear among appearing students about the pressure of taking two exams instead of one. The board will reduce each term’s syllabus by half and will rationalise the examination syllabus. The examination of the first term will take place in November-December, followed in March-April by the second term.
The assurance may help students to overcome the anxiety of two examinations. However, study abroad UG aspirants need to proactively work to put their schedules in place and adhere to the foreign colleges guidelines and timelines. The role of edtech companies who assist study abroad aspirants during their application process will become more pronounced. Their assistance will help the students not just to find the best-fit colleges’ and universities, but also help prepare for various aspects of their application and admission process including LOR, essays, and interview preparation.
Overall, with the new system in place, study abroad aspirants need to prepare well ahead to steer through the dual task of exams and UG application process.
This article is authored by Ashish Fernando, Founder and CEO – iSchoolConnect.
