Odisha CHSE Plus-2 exam: No sample papers, students ‘worried over new CBSE-pattern’

Several students in Odisha are facing uncertainty just days before their Plus 2 examination, as the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) has yet to release sample question papers to clarify the new examination format.

With only four days left for the examination, over 3.5 lakh students are anxious about the transition to a new format in line with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The revised structure shifts mainly from subjective to objective questions.

In the arts and commerce streams, the theory papers will be marked out of 80, with an additional 20 marks reserved for internal assessment. For science disciplines such as Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, 70 marks are allocated for the theory, alongside 30 marks for practical and internal evaluations.

As per reports, despite previous assurances, sample question papers have not been published, leaving students guessing about the types of questions they might encounter. The lack of clarity is adding to the stress in the lead-up to the exams.

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“Our examination will be conducted only after four days. However, we are yet to get the sample papers. It’s becoming very much difficult to prepare and it’s adding to our stress. We are not sure about the question pattern,” rued Prettam Kumar Das, a student of FM Secondary School.

“We were assured to be provided sample question papers for practice. However, we have not been provided with the sample papers yet. We are not sure about how to prepare for our examinations and hence under severe pressure,” said a Plus 2 student in Koraput.

“Government has not provided any sample question papers for the new CBSE pattern examination. However, some students have practiced as per the model sample question papers published by some private organisations. We have prepared our students as per the government guidelines and are hopeful that they will score well,” said Suraj Majhi, a teacher. 

Educators are attempting to prepare students based on earlier CHSE notifications, which detail the marks breakdown. Political science, for instance, will feature 21 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each, complemented by seven questions valued at two and three marks each, and three questions with eight marks each.

Meanwhile, educationists have expressed frustration, emphasizing that the issuance of sample papers could have alleviated the pressure felt by the students. 

“Now students are in doubt over the pattern of the question paper and how to answer those questions. Had they been provided with sample papers, they would have prepared accordingly. Now, they are uncertain about the question papers and the marking,” said educationist Dr Raghunath Panda.

More than 1,027 centres across the State are set to conduct the examinations, with results expected to be announced within 45 days post-examination.