The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) have recently conducted their annual board examinations for 2025, fostering both anticipation and reflection among students. These exams are pivotal for students seeking to transition to higher education, and they come with their fair share of challenges and accomplishments.
CBSE conducted several examinations across different subjects, including the Class 12 Business Studies paper on February 22, 2025. Meera Pandey, a teacher at VidyaGyan School in Bulandshahr, noted, "The Business Studies exam was well-balanced, testing both conceptual clarity and higher-order thinking skills". This year, around 44 lakh students from approximately 8,000 schools are participating in the CBSE exams, which signifies the scale of this annual academic event.
The Class 12 Business Studies exam offered students the opportunity to showcase their year-long diligence and preparation. Gopal, a student from the same institution, expressed satisfaction with the examination, sharing, "Students are pleased their year-round hard work was tested fairly." Raj Pratap, another student, echoed similar sentiments, stating he found the exam manageable due to his consistent practice with higher-level questions during internal assessments.
Interestingly, not all students experienced the same level of ease. Bhavika Pandey from Maharaja Agarsain Public School lamented, "The MCQs were tricky, and there were 2-3 questions I found extremely challenging." Her experience highlights how preparation strategies can significantly affect one's performance, particularly if certain key concepts were overlooked.
Meanwhile, the CBSE Class 10 exams are also garnering attention, with students tackling papers like Sanskrit and French. The CBSE board exams are based on careful guidelines, ensuring students face assessments reflective of their knowledge and skills. Samaira, another student, remarked on the Business Studies exam, saying, "It was of moderate difficulty and tested our conceptual comprehension rather than just rote learning."
On the other hand, the Bihar Board has also been making headlines with its 2025 Matric exams. The Class 10 Science exam held on February 21 concluded smoothly. Students were required to reach the exam centre at least 30 minutes prior to the exam, and adherence to several regulations, including prohibiting electronic devices and needing to display admit cards, was strictly enforced.
Bihar Board's emphasis on discipline reflects broader educational standards being put forth across various state boards, including necessary measures for optimal examination conduct. Reports detailed how students were reminded of guidelines such as carrying admit cards to avoid disqualification upon entry.
The exam environment has been structured for efficiency. Students received 15 minutes to calm themselves before answering their questions, fostering focus and readiness. Notably, the first shift of the Bihar Matric Science examination commenced at 9:30 AM, and instructions advised students to arrive one hour beforehand to mitigate anxiety related to overcrowding at exam venues.
Education authorities ensured prohibited items were consistently banned from the exam hall, including smartwatches and communication devices. This policy seeks to maintain fairness and integrity within the examination system, which has become increasingly necessary as technology evolves. The second shift of the Matric exam was scheduled for later the same day, showcasing the board's commitment to accommodating large volumes of students across multiple shifts.
Across both the CBSE and BSEB boards, the 2025 examinations serve as significant milestones for students as they strive to achieve their academic goals. They are not merely tests of retention but also evaluations of strategy, preparedness, and resilience.
Some educators have voiced opinions on the structure of the CBSE exams, emphasizing mixed question formats aimed at different cognitive levels. The CBSE Class 12 exam was noted for requiring students not only to recall information but also to apply their knowledge to various scenarios, thereby testing higher-level thinking processes. Priyanka Swami, PGT Commerce at KIIT World School, confirmed, "The paper had questions ranging from easy to complex, ensuring it catered to all levels of students."
The format of the examination—a mix of multiple-choice questions and long answers—invites varied assessments of student performance, making it easier for teachers to gauge where each individual stands academically. Notably, reports indicated no errors found within the question paper, allowing for confidence among students as they navigated through the exam.
Overall, the examination season for 2025 reflects the growing demands of academic challenges faced by students. From depressingly tricky MCQs to the euphoric feelings of completing challenging exams, every student’s experiences vary significantly. CBSE and Bihar Board have strived to maintain rigorous standards, ensuring students are adequately challenged and evaluated. With results expected shortly, the anticipation among students reaches new heights as they await their scores, which could define their educational futures.
Educational stakeholders continually assess these examinations to adapt to changing academic landscapes, monitoring feedback from students and teachers alike. The diverse experiences shared by students from the CBSE Class 12 Business Studies to the Bihar Board's Class 10 Matric exams underline the variety of approaches to learning and assessment prevalent within India's education system today.