List Of Toughest State Board Exams Released By NCERT; Tripura, Maharashtra Boards Top The List

New Delhi: A recent report by the National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) body has highlighted significant disparities in the difficulty levels of Class 10 and 12 board exams across India. Based on an analysis of English and Mathematics question papers from 17 school education boards, the report reveals that students in certain states face a more challenging examination environment.

Most Challenging Board Exams

According to the PARAKH report, the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) had the highest proportion of 'hard' questions, with 66.60% of its exam content falling into this category. Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) followed with 53.57%, while Goa, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal rounded out the top five with 44.66%, 44.44%, and 33.33% respectively.

Boards with the Highest Proportion of Hard Questions:

1. Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE): 66.60%
2. Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE): 53.57%
3. Goa Board: 44.66%
4. Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE): 44.44%
5. West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE): 33.33%

The report indicates that Chhattisgarh students fared relatively better as their exams included a comparable percentage (47.62%) of ‘easy’ questions. In contrast, Goa's exams consisted solely of ‘hard’ and ‘medium’ level questions, with ‘medium’ questions making up 55.34% and no ‘easy’ questions. Maharashtra's exams featured an equal distribution of ‘easy,’ ‘hard,’ and ‘medium’ questions.

Defined: Easy, Medium, and Hard Questions

- Easy Questions: Designed to assess basic understanding, these questions are expected to be answered correctly by the majority of students.
- Medium Questions: Requiring a moderate level of understanding and application, these questions are typically answered correctly by a substantial portion of learners.
- Hard Questions: These challenge students' higher-order thinking skills and are only answered correctly by a minority of learners.

Board Exams with Easy to Medium Level Difficulty

The PARAKH study also analysed question papers from boards in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Manipur, Odisha, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The majority of questions across these boards fell within the 'easy to medium' difficulty range.

Cognitive Demands of Different Board Exams

The report evaluated the cognitive demands of question papers, identifying the proportion of questions testing rote memory versus understanding.

Summary of Findings for Selected Boards:

- Board of Secondary Education Haryana (HBSE/BSEH): Rote Memory 64.71%
- Goa Board: Rote Memory 57.89%
- Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education: Rote Memory 53.13%
- Odisha Board: Rote Memory 50.77%
- Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad: Understanding 87.76%
- Nagaland Board of Secondary Education: Understanding 73.00%
- Tripura Board of Secondary Education: Understanding 61.70%
- Kerala Board of Public Examination: Understanding 61.54%

Disparity in Board Exam Difficulty Level, a Cause of Concern

The findings of the PARAKH report have raised concerns about the disparity in the difficulty levels of board exams across states. While some argue that challenging exams promote academic rigour and identify top talent, others express apprehensions about the potential negative impact on students' mental health and overall learning experience.