Open-book examinations allow students to carry textbooks and course materials to the exam hall, and students can refer to the textbooks to answer the questions asked in the examination. Open-book exams will help students to grasp topics better and respond accordingly.
Considering all the above factors, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is planning to implement open-book exams for classes 9 to 12 in selected state schools.
Sharad Gosavi, the Chairperson of MSBSHSE, proposed this initiative and stated, “We are considering open book examinations (OBE) for students of Classes 9 to 12. A decision regarding the implementation of the examination method will be taken based on responses. The method can be useful to prevent malpractices in examinations and help students better understand the concepts and formulas of syllabus.”
As per the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) recommendations, CBSE will conduct the November-December Classes 9 and 10 Examination for English, Maths and Science and Class 11 and 12 English, Maths and Biology in some selected schools on an open-book basis.
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) will only consider conducting open-book exams if the majority of the Board agrees. So, only a few selected schools will teach the open-book examinations. Considering how the open-book exam works, MSBSHSE might allow more schools to conduct exams similarly.