The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) has rolled out a policy allowing 10th and 12th-grade students to take their board exams twice a year. The new rule, set to take effect in the next academic session, aims to ease students' intense pressure, offering more chances to improve their scores.
Under this fresh approach, students can sit for their board exams in two cycles—once in March and again in September. This shift impacts over 1.5 million students in the general faculty stream. The board hopes this will revolutionize student performance and well-being by relieving the burden of a one-time high-stakes exam.
The traditional exam format has long been criticized for its all-or-nothing stakes. The twice-a-year policy is expected to achieve several objectives:
- Lower stress and anxiety levels tied to board exams
- Create opportunities for students to improve their scores
- Shift the focus from exam cramming to deeper learning
- Provide flexibility for those facing unexpected challenges during the first exam session
Education experts have widely praised the move. Dr Hetal Patel, an education researcher, lauded the policy as a "much-needed update" to better cater to student's individual needs. Despite the policy shift, GSEB has reassured students and parents that the syllabus, exam format, and evaluation process will remain consistent across both sessions. This means students won't face any additional content or a different structure based on the timing of their exam. The first exam session will occur in March 2025, followed by the second in September 2025. A helpline (1800-233-5505) has been set up to assist students, parents, and educators with questions regarding the policy change.