ICSE Class X, XII exams postponed

Days after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) decided to cancel and postpone Class X, XII exams respectively, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) also followed suit and announced the postponement of exams following an unprecedented surge in virus cases.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts the ICSE exams, said that new dates will be announced in the first week of June.

The council also announced that written exam for Class X is optional. According to Indian media, students of Grade X can choose to write offline exam along with the Grade XII students. If they fail to take the exam, a “fair and unbiased criterion” will be developed for the evaluation.

Urging students to stay calm and positive, Nargish Khambatta, principal and CEO of GEMS Modern Academy, said: “High-stakes board exams are important, especially for the Class XII ICSC students, in terms of university admissions and potential career choices. However, given the current spike in cases in India, one can understand the decision to defer the exams and review the situation on June 1. Our students are being given ample support to navigate these stressful times.”

For the new assessment process for Grade X ICSE students, Khambatta added: “Grade X students have been given a choice by the Council to appear for on-site exams or not to do so. From an educator’s perspective this raises two questions — one, are the children old enough to make that decision? We will certainly support them to be able to make the right choice. Secondly, with the exams being delayed, how will teachers cover a 10-month curriculum in six months? But our teachers have a back-up plan and this will be a good opportunity for the council to overhaul the core curriculum and keep it relevant.”

Previously, the ICSE Class X exams were supposed to begin on May 4 and end by June 7, while Grade XII exams were slated for April 8 to June 18.