CBSE Board Exams 2026: Shift to "Open-Book" Assessment for Select Subjects
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released a notification regarding a major shift in the examination pattern for the ongoing 2026 session.
The Update: CBSE is introducing Open-Book Examinations (OBE) for English, Mathematics, and Science for Classes 9 to 12 on a pilot basis in selected schools.
The Goal: The board aims to move away from rote memorization toward Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) and analytical reasoning, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP).
Student Impact: While the duration of the exam remains the same, students will be allowed to refer to approved textbooks. However, the questions will be strictly "application-based," meaning answers cannot be found directly in the text.