How to differentiate between CCE and Board Exam

CBSE CLASS 10 Published on 01 December 2022

The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation System (CCE) was started by CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) to assess student’s development. This assessment focuses on extracurricular activities, problem–solving areas and many more things. The CCE pattern helps the students in gaining overall education of various problem–solving and brainstorming areas apart from academics.   


CCE pattern was launched in 2009 – 10 which focused on the overall education of students. However, in 2010, the CCE pattern converted marks into grades on the report cards i.e. the students were told about how much they scored, but only grades were displayed on the report cards. CCE pattern has been removed due to an increased burden on students. CCE pattern 2019 has not been implemented. 


Now, here we can ask one question i.e. is the CCE pattern coming back in 2020? According to some sources, the CCE pattern is coming back in 2020 – 21. However, there will be some minor changes this year. Back when CCE was introduced, there were MCQs included in the question paper. But now only the subjective questions will be included in the question paper. As of now, there is no official announcement but the CCE pattern will return in 2020. 


CCE Pattern Advantages and Disadvantages   


The CCE pattern was introduced in 2010 to lower the burden of the students which they faced in the traditional education system. CCE pattern has certain advantages and disadvantages.


1. Advantages:


  1. CCE grading system helps in reducing stress and pressure among students.


  1. As the CCE pattern focuses on overall education, so, students will have ample time to concentrate on their interests and hobbies along with their studies. 


  1. Teachers and students both are benefited from this system.


  1. This CCE system helps the teachers to complete the syllabus on time so that students can focus on other extra–curricular activities too. 


  1. Students inculcate and develop problem–solving and critical thinking skills i.e. they learn about things like being emotional and sympathetic to other people’s needs, having social and leadership skills etc. 


There are a lot more advantages to the CCE grading system. But the above-mentioned advantages cover more or less the positive sides of this system.


2. Disadvantages:


  1. Students might take the examinations / board exams lightly.


  1. The grading system is vague i.e. one student scoring 90 marks and another student scoring 99 marks are included in grade A+. This might result in less concentration and focus among students. 


  1. Various assessments are carried out in this grading system. Therefore, students might grow tiresome and feel more pressure and burden than the traditional education system. 


  1. Students might get time to focus on different things but they can also get tired as they have to study all year due to the repetitive assessments. 


There are disadvantages regarding this CCE pattern. That is why it was removed in 2017 – 18. But some sources reveal that the CCE pattern might be implemented again in the education system. 



What is the difference between CCE and CBSE?


The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts board exams for classes 10th and 12th. Board exams are a part of the traditional education system. But there have been minor changes over the years in this system i.e. 10th boards are conducted in schools and are known as school boards. 


CCE is the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation which was introduced by CBSE to help students in having an overall education including extra-curricular activities along with academics. This system also helps students focus on their hobbies and interests apart from the curriculum. 


CCE was removed in 2017 and was replaced by the CBSE board exams. There is a difference in exam pattern between CCE and CBSE. CCE conducts various assessments throughout the year for both academics and extra–curricular activities. This might be tiresome for some students as they have to study throughout the year.


On the other hand, the CBSE board exams enable the students to focus on one exam at a time. Therefore, the students are not distracted and they can focus on one thing at a time. This improves their concentration power.


Another difference that can be highlighted is the grading system. CCE pattern displays grades but this system can be vague as the students scoring 90 and 99, both are included in the Grade A+ category. But the CBSE pattern of board exams includes the display of marks on the report card. Students can know how much they scored in board exams, unlike the CCE pattern. 


CCE Pattern Books


The CCE pattern was introduced in 2010. Below are the books which were included at the time when CCE was introduced.


1. Classes V and VII:


  1. Tales from Panchatantra
  2. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham
  3. The Tale of Mr. Tod by Beatrix Potter
  4. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
  5. The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton
  6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
  7. Karadi Tales


2. Classes VII and VIII:


  1. The Adventures of Tom Swayer by Mark Twain
  2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  3. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
  4. The Time Machine by H.G Wells
  5. Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
  6. Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson


3. Classes IX and X:


  1. Books by Agatha Christie
  2. The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond
  3. Little Women by Louisa Alcott
  4. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
  5. Snappy Surprises by Ruskin Bond
  6. School stories by P.G Wodehouse
  7. The Call of the Wild by Jack London


4. Classes XI and XII:


  1. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
  2. Animal Farm by George Orwell
  3. Short story collections by Indian Authors
  4. Books by George Eliot and Jane Austen
  5. Bronte Sisters
  6. Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
  7. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank


The above-mentioned books were the books included in the syllabus when the CCE pattern was introduced. However, it used to be upgraded every year. Some books were added and some were eliminated. Thus, these were the books that were included in the curriculum. 


Some people wonder, what is the CCE pattern? CCE pattern was introduced so that the students can get relief from the burden and pressure of studies. Moreover, some students feel that this CCE pattern was good while some feel it’s not.


On the other hand, board exams were introduced after the CCE pattern 2019 was removed. Both CCE and Board exams can be differentiated on the basis of exam pattern and grading system. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages. Some students feel the CCE pattern was good while others feel Board Exams are better. Therefore, both of them are neutral in nature i.e. some find the pattern and grading system tiresome while some find them boring and time-consuming.


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