India’s Most Challenging Board Exams: CBSE and ICSE’s Position Revealed
India has a large and diverse education system with various boards of education at both the national and state levels. Students across the country often find themselves facing different levels of difficulty when it comes to board exams.
New Delhi: India has a large and diverse education system with various boards of education at both the national and state levels. Students across the country often find themselves facing different levels of difficulty when it comes to board exams.
Table of Contents
While some boards are considered more challenging than others, there is no standard way of assessing the difficulty, leading to confusion. This highlights the need for a more standardized evaluation system that offers equal opportunities for all students, regardless of where they study.
India has several major education boards, and while most students are familiar with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the difficulty levels vary across different boards. Based on reports from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and recent data, here is a look at the toughest board exams in India.
Also Read: Former Kerala High Court Judge Cleared of Accusations in Rs 1,000 Crore CSR Scam Case
Prominent Education Boards in India
India has various education boards that shape students’ academic journeys. Here are the most well-known ones:
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): As one of the most prominent national-level boards, CBSE offers a standardized and systematic syllabus that is widely accepted across the country.
- Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE): Known for its detailed and comprehensive syllabus, ICSE focuses on in-depth learning, critical thinking, and the overall development of students.
- State Boards: Every state has its own educational board, such as the Maharashtra State Board or the Tripura Board. These boards can differ significantly in terms of difficulty and syllabus, influenced by local factors like literacy rates.
Top 5 Toughest Board Exams in India
According to the latest NCERT PARAKH report, some state boards are considered significantly tougher than others, with a higher proportion of challenging questions in their exams. Here are the top 5 toughest boards in India based on the percentage of difficult questions in their exams:
- Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE): With a high percentage of 66.60% tough questions, the Tripura Board stands as the most challenging board exam in India. Students are required to have a deeper comprehension and analytical approach to clear these exams.
- Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE): The Maharashtra State Board follows closely, with 53.57% of its questions deemed difficult. While it may require focused practice, students can succeed with a strong foundation in reasoning skills.
- Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education: The Goa Board also ranks high with 44.66% tough questions, pushing students to think critically and apply their knowledge practically.
- Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE): With 44.44% tough questions, the Chhattisgarh Board places significant pressure on students, urging them to demonstrate their understanding and analytical abilities.
- West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE): The West Bengal Board rounds out the top five with 33.33% difficult questions, emphasizing the importance of in-depth subject knowledge to score well.
How Does CBSE Rank?
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is one of the most recognized and widely accepted boards across India, but it doesn’t rank among the toughest in recent assessments. CBSE exams are formalized and structured, but they tend to feature fewer challenging questions compared to state boards like Tripura, Maharashtra, and others.
CBSE’s curriculum aims to prepare students for competitive exams and national-level assessments, but the difficulty level is generally lower than that of the most challenging state boards.
Where Does the ICSE Board Stand?
Though not included in the list of boards with the highest percentage of tough questions, the ICSE Board is often considered academically demanding.
ICSE’s extensive syllabus covers subjects in greater detail and requires students to have strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. It is considered one of the most challenging boards due to the depth and breadth of its content, which includes both theoretical and practical applications.
