KSEAB New Exam System: In a significant step taken by the Karnataka government, students who are in their class 10 and 2nd pre-university will now have to appear for three annual board exams. This decision was announced on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Under the new norms, students of SSLC (class 10) will no longer have to sit for the ‘supplementary examination’, instead, they will be required to take ‘Exams 1, 2, and 3’.
According to a statement issued by the Minister for Education, Madhu Bangarappa, SSLC (Class 10) and PUC (Class 11 & 12) students will be mandated to attend three board exams starting from the academic year 2023-34. While reports about these changes had been circulating online, the government has now officially implemented the new norms for all students in Karnataka.
Madhu Bangarappa explained, “The students will now have the opportunity to write exams three times. Those candidates who secure lower marks or fail in examinations can take all three exams.”
This move comes shortly after the National Curriculum Framework 2023 (NCF 2023) suggested that CBSE and other state boards should conduct board exams twice a year.
Various state board exams include the RBSE 10th Board Exam, GSEB 10th Board Exam, GSEB 12th Board Exam, CBSE 12th Board Exam ,etc.
What Does ‘Board Exam Thrice a Year Mean for Students’?
Previously, students in Karnataka would appear for one main annual exam followed by supplementary exams. However, with the introduction of the new education system, the concept of a supplementary exam will be eliminated.
A total of three exams – Exam 1, 2, and 3 – will be conducted, giving students the chance to improve their scores in the board examination. If a student is not satisfied with their result on the first exam attempt, they can choose to retake the exam to improve their results.
Principal Secretary (School Education & Literacy) Ritesh Kumar Singh explained, “This is essentially an opportunity for students to enhance their performance. The term ‘supplementary’ itself had a negative connotation, so we have removed it.”
Tentative Dates for Karnataka’s Three Annual Board Exams 2024
Students of classes 10 and 12 can take a look at the tentative exam schedule for Karnataka’s thrice-a-year board exam 2024 below
| Classes | Exam Name | Tentative Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10 | Board Exam 1 | March 1st to March 25 |
| Board Exam 2 | May 15th to June 5th | |
| Board Exam 3 | July 12th to July 30th | |
| Class 12 | Board Exam 1 | March 30th to April 15th |
| Board Exam 2 | June 12th to June 19th | |
| Board Exam 3 | July 29th to August 5th |
When will the new exam system come into effect?
The new education reform will be implemented this academic year. It’s worth noting that Karnataka’s decision to conduct three board exams goes beyond the union government’s NCF recommendation of introducing two annual exams.
How will the new Karnataka education reform help students?
Under the existing examination norms, if a student who passed the second PU examination was dissatisfied with the result in a particular subject, they had the option to reject those marks and retake the exam. However, the marks obtained in the supplementary examination were considered the student’s final score, with no consideration given to the marks obtained in the previous examination.
The new education reform aims to improve this system by allowing students to refine their scores in the first, second, and third attempts. The primary goal of the new Karnataka education reform is to reduce the stress and anxiety levels of students.
Meanwhile, with the implementation of the updated curriculum framework by the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Centre announced that students must now appear for board exams twice a year. This means that students will need to take the board exam twice a year, which will assist them in improving their scores.
The decision made by the central government aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The primary objective of introducing this policy was to alleviate the pressure on students and contribute to their holistic development.
As per the guidelines issued by the MoE, CBSE board exams will be conducted biannually, and they will no longer be organized on a term-wise basis. Students will have the opportunity to participate in two separate board exams, allowing them to retain the highest scores from both.
