The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to hold a mandatory Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) test for Std. IX from the ongoing academic session. Its scores will be counted in the final marks.

You can refer to our early report about the CBSE-PSA to be held for Std. XI , but the marks are unlikely to reflect in the marks sheet as was said then. However more details on the tests – Std. IX & XI will be provided by the board to all affiliated schools within a month.

The Problem Solving Assessment (CBSE-PSA) will be an analytical reasoning test and its scores will be made part of the fourth Formative Assessment (FA-IV) which comprises of 10% of the total marks in Std. IX. The FA-IV score is reflected in the combined Std. IX-X grade sheet which the board now issues under the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system.

What is Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE)?

Under Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation system, the board assesses students for the scholastic and co-scholastic performance. The Scholastic Assessment is done through Summative Assessment (SA) and co-Scholastic Assessment is done through Formative Assessments (FA). A combined grade sheet is being now issued by the board which lists out grades for both Std. IX and X. While SA is a written exam, the FA can be debate, project, quiz, multiple choice questions test etc. Each academic year’s assessments are conducted in the following sequence – FA-I, FA-II, SA-I, FA-III, FA-IV, SA-II

What is FA-IV?

The CBSE has given a group of “tools” to schools through which they can assess students. Schools are at liberty to choose any such tool (projects, essays, MCQ test etc.) for the assessment. FA-IV is conducted for every subject and schools try to use a combination of assessment tools.

What is the pattern of CBSE-PSA?

Total Questions – 60 | Total Marks – 90

• Qualitative (18 questions) : standalone MCQ (6 questions), Passage-based MCQs (12 questions.
• Quantitative (18 questions) : standalone MCQ (6), Passage-based MCQs (12)
• Language Conventions (24 questions) : Grammar & usage MCQs(8), Vocabulary in context MCQs (8), Passage-completion MCQs (8).