New education policy Reforms to be introduced in SSC exams from March 2020

Amaravati: The State government has made some modifications in the question papers for SSC exams to be held at the conclusion of the current academic year (March 2020 onwards).These modifications are in tune with the new education policy of the government and reforms proposed, according to B Rajasekhar, Principal Secretary, School Education.

To ensure quality in assessments, the blueprint is modified with a shift from assessing rote learning to conceptual understanding and higher order thinking skills of the students. That includes critical, creative, logical and analytical thinking through appropriate assessment tools.

Question paper contains 4 sections: 1. Objective type questions. For these type of questions, the answer should be in one word or phrase and there would be no choice. 2. Very Short answer Type questions. Students have to write answer for these questions in one or two sentences and there would be no choice. 3. Short answer questions. Answer in two to four sentences, no choice. 4. Essay type questions, for which the students will be asked to answer in eight to 10 sentences. Internal choice will be available for these essay type questions.

There will be 12 questions in objective type section and each question will carry half (½) mark and all the questions will carry 6 marks. This would be 12% of the total marks given to that particular exam paper. Students would get 1.5 minute time on an average to answer each question in this section. The total time for this section is 18 minutes.

In the very short answer questions section, there will be 8 questions and each question will carry one mark and total 8 marks, with a percentage of 16 per cent of the total marks given to the paper. Each question will be given 3 minutes time and for all the questions, there will be 24 minutes.

When comes to the short answer questions, there will be 8 questions and each one will carry 2 marks and all the questions carry a total of 16 marks with 32 percent weightage in the paper. To answer each question in this section, 6 minutes time will be given and a total of 48 minutes will be given for students.

There will be 5 essay type questions and each will carry 4 marks. All the five questions together will carry 20 marks. This is 4- percent of the total marks assigned to the paper. Students will get 12 minutes of time for each question. Exactly one hour time allocated for the students to answer all the five essay questions in the exam.

For each 50 marks exam paper, there will be a total of 33 questions and 150 minutes time. Director of Government Examinations has been directed to make arrangements to supply 24-page ruled or dotted single answer booklet to the students for writing the examinations. The Commissioner, Printing, Stationery & Stores Purchase Department, AP has been asked to meet the expenditure for this purpose.

The current practice of DEOs/District Common Examination Boards contributing to frame Question Papers for Class-X Examinations is discontinued. The Director, SCERT is entrusted with the responsibility of development of question papers for SSC Public Examinations for class-X duly engaging the Assessment Cell and coordinating with the Director, Government Examinations.