To reduce exam stress, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Education, Research and Training (SCERT) has done away with one of the three Summative Assessment exams that form part of the CCE (Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation) system, introduced as part of the educational reforms to ensure all-round development of students.
Following an amendment order by the government, the SCERT has issued guidelines to the District Education Officers (DEOs) on the syllabus, exams and the grading pattern. The system comes into effect from the current academic year (2017-18). The Summative Assessment-I (SA-I) conducted in September, which was cancelled following a question paper leakage, would be conducted in December and the SA-II in March (for class 10 students) and April (for classes 6 to 9).The CCE comprises four Formative Assessments and two Summative Assessments. There is no change in the former which is conducted for 50 marks to assess the children’s participation and reflections, project works and written work besides a slip test.
This academic year, the SA-I exam is scheduled from December 13 to 20. “Almost 60% of the States are following two Summative Assessment pattern. We initially designed three exams as teachers were used to this pattern — quarterly, half-yearly and annual. Now that the teachers are familiar with the new pattern, we have removed one of the SAs,” said M.V. Rajyalakshmi, Director, AP SCERT. She said the Summative Assessment would be conducted only for 80 marks. The Internal Assessment marks would be calculated from the four formatives and one summative (SA-I). The 20% internal marks would be calculated from 280 marks (four formative and one summative. i.e. SA-I. (4x50=200+1x80=80; total 280 marks). The grade would be given on an 8-point scale. The DEOs have been asked to constitute three-member committees for verification and certification of internal marks for tenth class students. The mandal-level verification committees, which will include the Mandal Education Officers, headmasters and senior headmasters, will visit all high schools in the mandal twice a year to verify answer papers, project reports and other formative assessment evidence and cross check with school records with online entries.