How will the CBSE board exam 2021 affect study abroad aspirants

This year, the 10th and 12th standard students were all gripped with uncertainty with no proper information on the CBSE board exam 2021.  Also, for students aspiring to go abroad, the uncertainty related to the board exam 2021 affected their plans. 

If you are planning to study abroad right after your boards, then take a look at the effect of the delay and cancelation of the 10th and 12th board exams 2021.

Impact on class 12th students

There was a lot of confusion regarding the board exam 2021 date due to the pandemic. The unprecedented delay and ultimate cancellation did not only affect the CBSE class 12 board exam but also the HSC board exam 2021 and ISC board exam 2021. 

Looking at the situation, CBSE completely changed the marking scheme, making it 30:30:40 criteria. Here’s what the ratio means:

• The board planned to derive 30% of marks from the student’s class 11 results. 
• Another 30% of marks from the results obtained by the student in class 10.
• The remaining 40% marks based on the pre-board exam and internal school examinations in class 12. 

The new marking criteria have been devised to accommodate the discrepancies faced by students in 2021 due to the pandemic. 

Impact on class 10th students

The board had to cancel the 10th board exam 2021 because of the pandemic. Class 10 students were given grades based on their internal school examinations. This pattern was followed for the SSC board exam 2021, ICSE board exam 2021, and CBSE class 10 board exam. 

While the cancelation of the 10th board exam 2021 did not have any negative impact, these changes resulted in inflation in marks. Therefore, certain students never got to know what marks they would actually receive if they wrote the examination.

New CBSE class 12 exam pattern

Following the delay/cancelation of the CBSE board exam 2021, a new examination pattern has been introduced. Therefore, you need to note these changes: 

• The board examination has been split into two terms (Term I and Term II). Therefore, the examinations will be held for each term. 
• The Term I exam will happen from December 1 to 22, 2021. This will cover around 50% of the entire syllabus and will follow the MCQ format. This term will have a total duration of 90 minutes. 
• Term II examinations will happen between March and April 2022. So, stay alert about any exam news for the exact dates. The Term II CBSE board examination will be a 2-hour written test. However, if the pandemic situation makes it difficult to conduct tests, this term will also happen in the MCQ format. 

Impact of new exam pattern on study abroad aspirants

A significant number of CBSE 12th standard students may be planning to go abroad. The latest batch of board exam 2021 students saw around 10.9 lakh Indian students already enrolled in universities abroad. 

If you are also aspiring to study abroad, then read ahead to know how the change in exam pattern can affect you. 

• Enrollment in foreign universities is dependent on their own admission processes. Apart from the marks of board examinations, you also need a great application. 
• The pandemic caused uncertainties, and this year, marks were calculated based on previous performances. The cancelation of the CBSE board exam 2021 has led students to focus on their class 11 marks too. Therefore, a great track record from grade 11 can make a stronger case for acceptance into a foreign university. So, you need to put in an equal amount of effort throughout the year. 
• Applications for foreign universities usually open around the end of the year. Thus, by the end of 2021, the applications to many foreign universities will be open. The change in the exam pattern can benefit you if you are planning to study abroad. Since you will already be giving the Term I examination by then, it will be easier to put down a tentative score on the application and gauge how many marks you require to secure admission abroad. 
• You should finish sending the applications to universities abroad by the end of January and focus on Term II of the 12th board exams 2021.

Key takeaways  

• The pandemic caused a change in the way board examinations are conducted across India. The uncertain conditions led to the development of a new CBSE board exam 2021 pattern that has split the test into two term examinations. Each examination will be counted towards the final marking for the 12th board exams 2021. 
• The board exams will now follow a cumulative marking scheme instead of marks based on a single examination. But, students planning to study abroad should not worry, as the change in pattern does not affect their applications.

We hope now you know about the impact of the change in the CBSE board 2021 pattern if you are willing to study abroad. If you need any help with planning your study abroad journey, reaching out to us might help! 

FAQs

Q1. Is the CBSE board exam canceled in 2021? 

Answer- As of now, the exam is not canceled. Provisions have been made to take the examinations which will follow an MCQ pattern for Term I. Cancellation depends on the pandemic situation during the time of the exam. 

Q2. Does getting admission at a foreign university depend on board examination results? 

Answer- Getting admission into a foreign university does not solely depend upon the board exam results. However, the academic record has a considerable weightage. 

Q3. Can the postponement of CBSE board exams affect my admission to a foreign university?  

Answer- It should not affect your admission since various universities are welcoming students who are unable to fulfill academic and travel criteria due to the pandemic. 

Q4. When will CBSE 12th board exams start? 

Answer- CBSE board exams Term 1 will begin on December 1, 2021, and end on 22nd December. The dates for Term 2 are yet to be announced.

WRITTEN BY

Aastha

Sr. Content Writer

Aastha Arya is a Senior Content Writer at iSchoolConnect who writes about topics covering study abroad trends, exclusive news updates and prolific college courses. She has a 4-year of experience in this field and also likes to keep tabs on recent events, visa policy changes, and many other concerns that affect international students.

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