D-Day is finally here. Tomorrow are Freia’s Board exams. The ICSE Board Exams. Or as popularly known, the Xth Standard exams. An important event as it’s the 1st time that students are giving an exam that their school will not be evaluating. The assessments will be done by the ICSE Board.
For some strange reason, the Xth exams have always been considered important. And the preparation for the momentous event starts more than 2 years prior. The students get to choose their Section 2 subjects, the most preferred choice being Math and Science, as well as an optional subject when they enter the IX. Whilst there are several choices, Computer Applications and Technical Drawing are probably the top 2 favorites.
The IXth is a compressed and condensed course, with most of it being part of the Xth exams. And the class ends in February, with the Xth starting in March, instead of the traditional June. Most students spend their summer break attending classes. And then they do several practice exams, preliminary exams, and sometimes even final preliminary exams. A typical student would have given around 100+ exams in preparation for the Board exams.
Come January, the students are given holidays to study at home. And even before that, the attendance drops dramatically after the prelim exams. With parents encouraging students to sit and home and study and not waste time going to school. At Freia's school attendance only perked up when the Principal sent an SMS saying that all absentees would need to get a medical certificate.
In January and February, parents pressurize the kids to study, since their life depends on it. Unfortunately, I was no exception. And as I said to a friend who checked on how Freia’s studies were going. “She’s studying twice as much as I did, but half as much as I’d like her to.”
By the time the actual exams are over, all of us are bored. There’s just so much one can do. And if it's someone like Freia, who is neither a believer in the exam system or a hard worker, it becomes doubly difficult. And so, January and February were spent mostly by Freia studying a little between TV breaks.
The primary reason for the importance of the Boards was that the results would be the basis on which admissions to college would be given. Wait a minute. That is no longer true. Most students have already got and paid for admissions in various colleges. On the basis of the IXth exams. Or on the basis of entrance exams held by the colleges. And the CBSE Board has now made the Xth Board exams itself optional. So the magic of the Xth is slowly but surely fading.
And as we go to bed on the eve of the exam, Freia comes to me and says, “Pa, can you please wake me up at 6”. I’m touched. I have tears in my eyes. Finally my little daughter on the eve of here exams has realized the significance of exams and the ICSE Boards. Until, I’m brought out of my dream by her next statement. "The Oscars are being telecast live tomorrow morning".
For some strange reason, the Xth exams have always been considered important. And the preparation for the momentous event starts more than 2 years prior. The students get to choose their Section 2 subjects, the most preferred choice being Math and Science, as well as an optional subject when they enter the IX. Whilst there are several choices, Computer Applications and Technical Drawing are probably the top 2 favorites.
The IXth is a compressed and condensed course, with most of it being part of the Xth exams. And the class ends in February, with the Xth starting in March, instead of the traditional June. Most students spend their summer break attending classes. And then they do several practice exams, preliminary exams, and sometimes even final preliminary exams. A typical student would have given around 100+ exams in preparation for the Board exams.
Come January, the students are given holidays to study at home. And even before that, the attendance drops dramatically after the prelim exams. With parents encouraging students to sit and home and study and not waste time going to school. At Freia's school attendance only perked up when the Principal sent an SMS saying that all absentees would need to get a medical certificate.
In January and February, parents pressurize the kids to study, since their life depends on it. Unfortunately, I was no exception. And as I said to a friend who checked on how Freia’s studies were going. “She’s studying twice as much as I did, but half as much as I’d like her to.”
The primary reason for the importance of the Boards was that the results would be the basis on which admissions to college would be given. Wait a minute. That is no longer true. Most students have already got and paid for admissions in various colleges. On the basis of the IXth exams. Or on the basis of entrance exams held by the colleges. And the CBSE Board has now made the Xth Board exams itself optional. So the magic of the Xth is slowly but surely fading.
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