AGES 5 TO 18

WHAT IS THE CBSE CURRICULUM?

The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) is a standardised school curriculum offered in 24 countries across the world. It’s also the national level board of education for public and private schools in India, which includes Nord Anglia’s Oakridge International School.

ABOUT THE CBSE CURRICULUM

The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) is a recognised, high-quality programme that offers a challenging and rewarding education. While the course is widely considered to be tougher than State Board programmes, it’s also seen as more student-friendly, ensuring pupils don’t face too much pressure and benefit from a more diverse, interactive learning experience.

This page explains the key features of the CBSE curriculum, including the advantages and disadvantages compared with a State Board programme.

CBSE CURRICULUM FEATURES

Key information about the CBSE curriculum:

The syllabus is structured and formalised, making use of standardised textbooks.
Children can’t fail a class until 8th grade.
Many colleges in India include the syllabus in their entrance exams.
Board exams for the CBSE are optional in 10th grade and mandatory in 12th grade.
The CBSE is generally favoured by those who regularly relocate and seek a standardised curriculum for their child.
It is a popular choice for students looking to study traditional degrees at university, such as medicine.
The secondary curriculum of the CBSE features seven learning areas, which can vary between schools.
The curriculum features a wide variety of subjects that span the arts, sciences, technology, and more.

CBSE EXAMS AND ASSESSMENT

The CBSE exam table is structured differently to State Board curricula. Rather than having three exams spread throughout the year, the CBSE curriculum features continuous assessments called Formative Assessments (FA), plus one exam, which is referred to as the Summative Assessment (SA). The CBSE curriculum is split across two semesters.

Semester one (FA1)

The Formative Assessment consists of three activities, and children gain a mark out of 10 for each. One is an individual activity involving the creation of a chart, model or project; the second is a similar group-based activity; the third is a pen and paper exam.

Semester two (FA2)

Semester two includes the same Formative Assessment as semester one, plus the Summative Assessment. This is a written exam (90% theory, 10% practical) that is worth a total of 30 marks.

The total marks available in each semester is 50, which are added up to give each child a score out of 100 for the academic year.

CBSE exam score conversion

Below is a chart showing the GPA criteria of the CBSE curriculum:

Marks Range	Grade	Grade Point
91-100	A1	10
81-90	A2	9
71-80	B1	8
61-70	B2	7
51-60	C1	6
41-50	C2	5
33-40	D	4
21-32	E1	-
20 or below	E2	-

ADVANTAGES OF THE CBSE CURRICULUM

Considering a CBSE education for your child? We've listed some of the key advantages over a State Board curriculum.

CBSE focuses on students and their wellbeing, and is structured to reduce pressure and increase interactive learning.
This low-pressure environment is also considered during exams, with teachers going to great lengths to ensure students feel confident and learn from the process. This is evident in the results, with few students failing CBSE exams.
The CBSE programme focuses on physical and mental growth, encouraging students to pursue a sport alongside their studies.
Extra-curricular opportunities help students to become global citizens, as they learn about different cultures and broaden their horizons.
Completing both primary and secondary education gives students an advantage if they plan to continue their studies at centralised institutions like IIT or AIIMS. This is because the preliminary exams are organised by the CBSE.
The CBSE curriculum gives students the flexibility to do what they enjoy. There is no obligation to pick a certain stream, which allows learners to follow their passions.

THE CBSE CURRICULUM AT OAKRIDGE SCHOOL

Oakridge International School is home to an ambitious community that offers a premium CBSE education under the guidance of leading educators. Students achieve world-class exam results and go on to find success in higher education and beyond.

We have five campuses – Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Bachupally, Visakhapatnam and Mohali – and you can learn more about the CBSE curriculum on our website.

DISCOVER OAKRIDGE