Q&A
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EXAM TIME: The CBSE students are busy preparing for examinations.
The Central Board of Secondary Education answers questions relating to its examinations from The Hindu's readers. Readers are welcome to send in questions, primarily those relating to the class X and XII examinations to cbsehelp@thehindu.co.in which will be forwarded to the CBSE. Answers to select questions will be published in these columns in subsequent instalments. The purpose of this series is also to help reduce examination-related stress in students.
Some of the questions in the back exercises (especially additional exercises) after each lesson in the Physics NCERT textbook, class XII are of a higher difficulty level. Will they be tested in the board exams? Is there a solution book issued by the CBSE or NCERT for the unsolved exercise questions in the NCERT textbook (for Physics, Chemistry, Maths)?
(B. Lavanya, class XII, Chennai)
a. The difficulty level of the questions asked in the examination will be comparable to the questions given in the Board document on sample question papers for class XII in the subject. The question paper will also include application-based questions as per the guidelines in the said document.
b. There is no publication of the Board which includes solutions to unsolved questions of NCERT textbooks.
I am a class X student. Would the sums of Geometry come from only the textbook?
(Govind Remesh, K.V., Harni Road, Vadodara)
The questions on Geometry need not be necessarily from a specific textbook.
a. In Mathematics, class X, in the chapter Statistics, if the question reads ``compute the mean of the following data by the short-cut method,'' which of the three methods are we supposed to use?
b. In Science and Social Studies will we be tested on the information given in the red boxes?
(R. Ashwin, Chennai)
a. The actual method to be used for computation of mean for a given data will be given in the question paper.
b. As mentioned in the Preface of the NCERT's textbook on Science and Technology for class X, the content matter given in the boxes with red border is non-evaluative for students.
I am a class X student. Our teacher told us that we are supposed to draw the diagrams of morphology of heart and others only according to the NCERT textbook. The diagrams of heart are not clear and hence I have practised the diagrams from a reference book. Can I draw those diagrams in my board exams?
(C.S.S. Adhokshaja, K.V. No.2, Bhopal)
Any correct, labelled and neat diagram will fetch you full marks for answering the questions on diagrams.
In class X Social Science, what type of map will be provided for locating and labelling specific places? Political or outline?
(S. Kartik, Hosur)
It is suggested that students consult the Board's document Secondary School Curriculum 2006 and Sample Question papers for all such matters.
I am in class X. Recently, Internet reports said that in Social Studies, the chapters, `Insurgency and terrorism', `Economic Development', `Type of Economies' and `WTO' have been deleted. Should I study them or not in Unit I? We know that the first chapter `The Heritage of India' carries a weightage of four marks. Should I study the ancient, medieval and modern period, about every phase in history or not?
(Soumya, Karnataka)
The following topics have been deleted from the Social Science syllabus for 2006 examinations:
Insurgency and terrorism, Types of economies, World Trade Organisations, chapter 1 and chapter 7 from the CBSE textbook on Disaster Management for class X.
The whole chapter on Heritage of India is part of the syllabus and question(s) of 2/4 marks on any part of the chapter can be asked in the question paper.
For class X, while drawing the diagram of a nuclear reactor, is it compulsory to draw the diagram given in the NCERT textbook or is it sufficient that the diagrams given in reference books are drawn?
(Devaky. A, Physics teacher, M.E.S. Senior Secondary School, Pattambi, Kerala)
Any correct, labelled and neat diagram will be considered equally good for answering the question.
I am in Class X and want to know whether the income tax question will be based on financial year 2005-06 (Assessment year 2006-07) or earlier financial years.
(Sonali)
The income tax rules given in the Finance Act 2005 will be used for calculation of income tax. These rules will also be given in the question asked in the examination.
In the Finance Act for 2005, Standard Deduction has been eliminated for calculation of personal Income Tax. Are the students still expected to prepare for problems considering the Standard Deduction or will the questions be based on the Finance Act for 2005?
(Varsha Gopalakrishnan, class X, Bala Vidya Mandir Sr. Sec School, Adyar, Chennai)
The calculations will be done based on the rules given in Finance Act 2005. These rules will also be given in the question asked in the examination.
In the Income Tax chapter under Mathematics, a member whose salary is Rs. 3,12,000 p.a., contributes Rs. 90,000 towards PF and 30,000 towards LIC. In the question, new slabs are given for calculation of tax. But there is no mention about the maximum limit of Rs. 1 lakh towards contribution. In this situation, whether Rs. 1,20,000 (90,000 + 30,000) or Rs. 1 lakh is to be taken as contribution?
(Vijey Ragvan, SRDF Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Chromepet, Chennai)
The maximum limit of Rs. 1 lakh towards contribution is to be taken for calculation of income tax.
As per the guidelines given, the practical work done in science by the students of class X needs to be subjected to continuous assessment throughout the year. The parameters for assessment are also given. Some schools conduct practical examination at the end of the year. Please clarify whether it is right to conduct practical examination? If it is to be conducted, please clarify whether it is to be conducted separately for Physics, Chemistry and Biology or together?
(K. Bhoopathy, SDSC, SHAR, Sriharikota)
a. The Board's document `Secondary School Curriculum 2006' clarifies that it should be a continuous assessment throughout the year. However, if it has not been followed by any school due to unavoidable reasons, practical examination must be conducted.
b. Science and Technology is a single subject. However, if it is being taught in a school by a team of teachers, practicals may be done jointly.
In Social Studies first chapter, `The Heritage of India', page 35, it is given that Telugu literature author Dhurajati wrote the `Kalahasti Mahatamya'. However, according to Telugu literature, the book's name is `Kalahastiswara Mahatyam'. If I write the correct name and not according to the book, will I get marks for it in the Board exam?
(A. Niharika, Visakhapatnam)
The marking scheme in various subjects is prepared on the basis of correct information. If you write the correct answer, you will get full marks.
I am in class XII. I want to know about the mark distribution for each chapter in chemistry. Actually, we were given the mark distribution for each chapter at the start of the term. But after the model exams, we found that the mark distribution has been widely varied. I have noticed that even in the sample papers of previous years, the mark distribution is varying.
(Aathira Rajagopal Nair, Sopanam, Thrissur)
Please consult CBSE Sample question papers and Senior School Curriculum 2006 Volume I for information about distribution of marks for different chapters. Do not worry unnecessarily about this.
Can the questions in History, Political Science, Psychology and Economics be answered in any sequence?
(P. Khanna)
Yes. Questions in History, Political Science, Psychology and Economics can be answered in any sequence. However, the following points may also be considered while writing answers: answers to all parts of a question should be together at one place. Since Economics question paper is divided into two sections, A and B, it is advisable to attempt all questions of one part (in any sequence) at one place.
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