Growing interest for CBSE’s OPT

Last date extended to January 31

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has extended the last date for applying online for the key Optional Proficiency Test (OPT) to January 31. The original deadline ended on December 31.

OPT will be held offline from April 14 to 18 this year at all the schools across India.

This test, conducted in languages and sciences, will measure a Student’s abilities and skills in a subject to know how well he or she has learned, understood and internalised the related concepts and principles.

There has been growing interest among parents for the OPT as it was considered a benchmark for assessing their wards and decides his future depending on his performance. The number of students opting for the students has grown up sharply and more and more schools evincing interest to conduct the test. This year, 30 more schools are expected to join the stream.

“As the test would be held just fifteen days after the annual examination, there may not be much trouble for my child. Basing on his comprehending abilities especially in basics, we would decide whether to admit him in a course in which he can shine in plus two or some other technical line,” said Murali Krishna, employee of Secretariat, whose son is studying at Uppal II KV.

“I consider this a unique test which no other government school or agency conducts. This is good for students and parents as well through which they can know his or her strengths in subjects specifically. I paid Rs 600 for all the tests” Mahidhar Velchala, another parent explained.

“I suggest this test should be made mandatory. Although CCE is there to assess and inform the parents about their wards’ abilities, OPT being an objective test with negative marking would surely provide a perfect first hand information for the parents” Umapurna Nyayapathi, a teacher at kVS (104 area), Visakhapatnam felt.

OPT is conducted in five subjects for students of Class X. In language, it will assess a student’s skills in reading, writing or vocabulary while in science subjects, it focuses on assessing students’ abilities to apply concepts and principles to analyse a given situation, solve a given problem and conduct practical work efficiently. In Mathematics, it assesses problem solving abilities and skills of mathematical thinking, mathematical reasoning and procedural techniques followed by students.

“The Test will mainly focus on assessing students’ abilities and skills to apply knowledge and understanding of any subject to new and unfamiliar everyday life situations”, Pitam Singh, Director of Secondary Education at CBSE said. This would also help in making future educational plans as well, he added.

Student can opt for one subject or all subjects depending upon his/her choice.

The fee of the test will be Rs 300 for one test, Rs 400 for two, Rs 500 for three and Rs 600, for four or five subjects. The registration fee has to be submitted in the form of a Demand Draft in favour of “Secretary, CBSE, Delhi” payable at Delhi.

Every student appearing in the test will be issued a certificate by the Board indicating percentile rank.

All questions will be of multiple choice with only single ‘correct’ answer. Negative marks will be awarded for wrong answers. More than one answer indicated against a question will also be deemed as incorrect response and will be negatively marked.

Question paper in every subject will carry 100 marks and the duration of every subject will be two-and-half hours- 10:30 am to 1 pm on the dates. The test will be based on classes IX-X syllabus. The typology of questions will be different from the type of questions asked in conventional final examination.