CBSE’s Plan For Open-book Exams 

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance, Education

In News

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is going to introduce open-book assessments (OBE) in Class 9 from 2026-27, after a pilot study showed strong “teacher support” for the idea.
  • The CBSE Governing Body cleared the plan in June 2025. 

What are open-book exams?

• It allows students to use approved resources like textbooks, class notes, or other specified material during an assessment, rather than mainly testing memory.
• The main challenge is finding relevant information, understanding it, and applying it to solve problems.
  •  Such exams assess students’ ability to interpret and connect ideas, rather than just memorize facts.

Benefits 

• It shifts focus from rote memorization to critical thinking, analysis, and application
• It reduces Exam Stress by allowing access to reference materials and alleviates anxiety and encourages deeper engagement with content.
• It simulates professional scenarios where problem-solving involves consulting resources, fostering lifelong learning skills.

Challenges 

• Many students assume OBEs are easier, but success demands preparation and analytical ability.
• Crafting questions that test application rather than recall is time-intensive and requires pedagogical shifts.
• Students in rural or under-resourced settings may lack access to quality reference materials, risking inequity.
• Conducting OBEs requires spacious halls and logistical planning for material access.

Global Scenario 

• Open-book exams have existed for decades, with Hong Kong introducing them in 1953. Studies from the US and UK between 1951 and 1978 showed that open-book exams helped students internalize knowledge rather than just memorize, benefiting weaker students and measuring different skills. 
• The COVID-19 pandemic prompted wider use of open-book formats as exams moved online, though many students initially struggled with the unfamiliar format.

Status In India 

• In 2014, CBSE launched the Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) to steer students away from rote learning. 
• It applied to Class 9 for Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science, and to Class 11 final exams for subjects like Economics, Biology and Geography. Students were given reference material four months in advance.
  • However, by 2017-18, the initiative was discontinued as it failed to effectively develop the intended critical thinking skills.
• Open-book formats have a stronger presence in collegiate education. 
  • The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved their use in engineering colleges in 2019 after an expert panel’s recommendation. During the pandemic, Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University used OBEs, while IIT Delhi, IIT Indore and IIT Bombay ran them online.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• CBSE is approving open-book exams as part of a broader shift towards competency-based learning encouraged by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework. 
• These reforms aim to move away from rote memorization, promote conceptual understanding, and use assessments that cater to diverse learning styles while reducing fear and improving learning outcomes.

Source :IE