The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is the most popular board in India
The CBSE follows the National Curriculum Framework which is the basis for all entrance examinations to universities in India. The focus of the CBSE recently has shifted towards a more conceptual understanding and the application of concepts learned.
Levels I to II
- The focus is on learning through experiments and activities.
- Storytelling workshops and dedicated book reading programmes inculcate regular reading habits.
- A wide range of co-curricular activities is integrated into the schedule and all activities are compulsory.
- The focus is based on foundational literacy and numeracy through play-based learning.
Levels III to V
- The focus is on learning through hands-on experiences, projects and multidisciplinary learning activities.
- Students are exposed to a greater choice of co-curricular activities and club activities.
- Students are placed in one of 4 houses – Prithvi, Agni, Vayu or Akash.
- Students can elect to participate in the After School Activities (ASA) programme
- Class IV is when students move to the system of formal examinations.
- Competitions required for skill development are compulsory and they are conducted once in a month.
Levels VI to VIII
- The curriculum becomes more challenging with the requirement to learn more abstract concepts.
- Multi-media in the form of videos and presentations, is are used more often.
- Learning Management Systems are used more often with online exercises.
- Students are free to select from a range of co-curricular activities and clubs based on their area of interest.
- French and Spoken Hindi are available for optional learning.Reading and language enrichment is still given importance with activities like Mini TedEd, drama, debate, open mic, etc
- Students interact more with the external world and form opinions.
Levels IX to XII
- Students start preparing for their entry into university.
- Career counseling programme starts from grade IX.
- Allocation of groups is dependent on performance in grade X, an assessment test and an interview.
- Dedicated laboratory facilities for Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology are provided.
- Integrated competitive exam coaching for all major entrance examinations.
- Students develop leadership skills by participating in Student Council-led events.
- Students select from an extensive range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Entrepreneurship and Psychology. A skill-based subject, Artificial Intelligence, is offered in Grades 9 and 10, while students of Grades 11 and 12 can choose from Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Business Administration or Data Science based on their interests.