Conduct national test after class 12 for college admissions, suggests panel

There is likely to be some key changes in the way school examinations are held. One of them would be "on-demand board exams" for students. This initiative has been proposed by the committee that formulated the National Policy of Education 2016 in a bid to bring in some changes in the school examination structure.

The new initiative will have a two-part system of exams for Class X and a national-level test after Class XII, similar to the SAT in the US.

The committee, which recently submitted its report to the HRD ministry, said public board exams were "useful" but there was a need to relieve stress and "offer flexibility." It recommended moving towards on-demand, online board exams that can be taken when the candidate is ready.

Besides, it also proposed a national-level SAT-type test open to all who have passed Class XII - irrespective of the examination board - to fix the problem of multiple entrance tests for admission to college courses.

The panel suggested holding Class X exams at two levels - higher and lower - especially in mathematics and sciences, for the same syllabus.

Moreover, students who plan to drop these subjects in Class XI, or exit the academic system for vocational education, will have the option of taking the lower level exam. This, the committee hoped "will reduce anxiety and stress." The Union HRD ministry will now take a call on the panel's recommendations.