Are the Class 9 Open-Book Assessments by CBSE causing more learning, less stress, or weakened foundations? There are many worries.

Open-Book Assessments (OBAs) will be implemented for Class 9 pupils by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) starting with the 2026–2027 school year. The plan, which was approved by the board's governing body in June, comes after a trial study for Classes 9–12 was carried out in a few schools in late 2023.The Board states that these tests will be included in the three pen-and-paper exams given every academic year and will include languages, mathematics, science, and social science. While completing the papers, students are permitted to refer to their approved reference materials, textbooks, and class notes. In addition, the CBSE stated in its statement that the format aligns with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, both of which place a strong emphasis on "competency-based learning."Open-book exams let students bring in resources, including textbooks, printed content, or other materials as designated by the school, and use them while answering questions, in contrast to traditional exams that mainly assess the student's memory of "textbook-lessons."The material's availability, however, does not make the test any simpler. Knowing what to look for and how to use it is the difficult part for pupils. For instance, students may have all the formulas in front of them when writing a science paper, but the true challenge is to use concepts, analyze trends, and interpret data to solve an issue.

The CBSE has attempted this kind of reform before. The Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) for Classes 9 and 11 was introduced in 2014. Months in advance, the students received reference materials, from which questions were derived. But by 2017, the board decided that OTBA had not significantly improved critical or analytical skills, therefore it was canceled.The Board also noted in the notification that during the pilot study, they noticed certain performance issues; however, these issues could be resolved with the help of teachers, standardized sample papers, and excellent questions that encourage test-takers to think critically. This time, it is anticipated that CBSE will offer evaluation frameworks, teacher-training materials, and sample papers to assist schools. A few of principals suggested that the rollout be phased in and accompanied with feedback loops between the board and the schools. Students will require assistance from teachers as well as direction on how to practice and use those abilities in practical situations.