NEP 2020 Exams and Assessment Reforms

Education is the foundation upon which societies are built. Educational design and agendas must adapt to a society’s evolving needs, technology and required skills. The Indian Ministry of Education introduced the National Education Policy 2020 in an effort to recognise the changing needs of a global society.  It is the new blueprint of education in India in line with the vision of nurturing skills and knowledge amongst children of today who will be the thought leaders of tomorrow.

With a keen focus on developing deeper, applicable knowledge over mere memorisation of concepts, the NEP 2020 stresses the need to develop a new curriculum based on experiential learning and dynamic evaluations. It emphasises the need for effective assessments via:-

• Formative, regular and competency-based assessments.
• Teaching methods that promote learning and development of students.
• Teaching and assessing higher-order skills such as critical thinking, analytical thinking, problem-solving and conceptual creativity.
• Building assessment expertise that focuses on testing deeper knowledge and using assessments for learning.
• Revolutionise and build a new schooling system that focuses on continuously developing innovative teaching-learning processes that optimise student learning experience.

Shifting Focus: From Rote Learning to Competency-Based Assessment

One of the biggest transformations in the education policy has been to move away from emphasis on memorisation, and a few summative assessments towards nurturing creativity, deeper knowledge and analytical skills amongst students. It is these that the competency-based assessments will focus on evaluating under NEP 2020.

Some of the Key Assessment Reforms:

1. From Report Cards to Progress Cards:

Traditional report cards indicating a student’s performance in summative exams will be replaced by comprehensive, 360-degree progress cards that will include a student’s growth markers in individual cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. A progress card will take into consideration teachers’ evaluation of subject expertise, and other essential skills, as well as peer and self-assessment by the students themselves. Parent and teacher interaction and collaboration will become key to ensure learning inside and outside of the classroom.

2. Revamping Exams

High-pressure final exams, designed to assess memorisation will give way to dynamic examinations spaced across multiple grades (Grades 3, 5 & 8). These will help track student progress across the learning years. Additionally, to further ease the pressure of board exams on the students, they will be able to take these external exams (for 10^th & 12^th) twice, and the best of the two results will be treated as final. The exams will be designed by special assessment teams to gauge core competencies such as concept application, problem-solving, analytical thinking etc. The NEP 2020 offers students a wider range of subjects to choose from not, governed and limited by specific streams. Students will also have the option to choose subjects at different levels (for example basic mathematics versus high-level mathematics) based on interest.

3. Role of National Assessment Centre, PARAKH

The NEP 20202 has mandated the setting up of the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development). PARAKH will be responsible for setting and implementing guidelines to analyse student learning and performance via higher-order skills as well as the application of concepts in real-life situations. It would also assist schools and ensure they implement the new assessment framework. Further, PARAKH is tasked with tracking the changes, progress and achievement brought about under the new educational objectives and policy.

4. National Testing Agency

While PARAKH is charged with setting assessment guidelines, overseeing implementation as well as tracking changes in the outcome based on NEP 2020, the National Testing Agency will house expertise in designing meaningful assessments. Functioning as an independent organisation, the NTA will have specially trained personnel to develop high-quality aptitude tests for undergraduate, graduate and university levels in various subjects and streams.

Assessment Agenda as Per NEP 2020

• Implementing new guidelines on assessment for every stage of schooling.
• Utilising adaptive teaching techniques and formative assessments for the teaching-learning process.
• Equipping teachers to use Assessment as and for Learning during the teaching process to aid deeper understanding among students.
• Revamping report cards into 360-degree progress and growth markers.
• Designing question banks for competency-based tests that evaluate higher-order skills.
• Train specialised personnel for assessment design and patterns, charged with paper and evaluation setting.
• Developing new evaluation methods for assessing grades 3, 5 and 8.
• Helping all states and union territories to develop and deploy AI and IT-based tracking of student academic progress from primary to senior secondary levels.
• Leveraging technology to reduce the time burden associated with exams.

Advantages of the Assessment Reforms

• Regularly reviewing and continuously evolving the teaching-learning process for a student-centric learning approach
• Helping students gain deeper understanding and applicable knowledge, at the same time equipping them with essential skills useful in real-world scenarios.
• Competency-based performance matrix replacing rote memorisation, laying emphasis on real knowledge and skills instead of only memorisation.
• Reducing the burden and dependence on select high-stakes exams.
• Encouraging teachers to identify specific learning needs of students and engage relevant teaching interventions through. unconventional teaching methodologies and formative assessment (Assessments for learning).
• Flexibility and freedom for students to choose subjects of interest, as well as the levels within a given subject.
• Helping schools raise the bar on quality of education for the students.

Know How Extramarks Partner Schools are Already in Sync With NEP 2020 Exams & Assessment Reforms

Extramarks is a smart technology-based platform enabling end-to-end holistic educational solutions for schools, teachers, students and parents. With its modules like Smart Class Plus, Assessment Centre, Learning App and Parent App, Extramarks has already paved the way for its member schools to be in sync with the requirements of the NEP 2020 assessment reforms. Offering teacher assistance through the Assessment Centre, it helps teachers utilise various formative assessment tools for a better learning experience in the classroom. The Learning App enables students to continue learning seamlessly between the classroom and at home through the latest learning tools. Through its Smart Class Plus feature, Extramarks eases the transition for schools from traditional set-ups to cutting-edge, engaging and immersive digital learning experiences that help students gain deeper and more current knowledge of the concepts being taught.

Conclusion

The NEP 2020 assessment reforms lay the ground for a much-needed transformation in the Indian education sector. With NEP 2020, education in India is ready to step into the 21^st century. If implemented well this paradigm shift in education will equip the students of today with the necessary skills to navigate a new world scenario. Not only will they have the required knowledge but also the skills to apply this knowledge, make critical decisions, problem solve, find creative solutions and have exemplary analytical prowess.

Frequently Asked Questions about NEP 2020

What is the full form of PARAKH?

PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.

When will NEP 2020 be implemented?

The NEP 2020 was announced by the central government in July 2020 and came fully into practice from the 2023-24 academic year.

Last Updated on July 8, 2024