Advancements in Competency-Based Education: CISCE Introduces Item Bank for ICSE and ISC Students

In recent years, the global emphasis on competency-based education has reshaped educational systems, prompting a shift towards learning experiences that nurture critical thinking and problem-solving skills. India’s educational landscape is no exception, with efforts being made to promote quality learning that transcends rote memorisation. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), recognized as a progressive national examination board, has introduced several initiatives to incorporate competency-based education in CISCE schools. Among these initiatives are teacher training programs that focus on item development for competency-based assessments and the inclusion of competency-focused questions in ICSE and ISC examinations starting from 2024.

To aid the transition to competency-based assessment and support teachers and students in preparing for higher-order thinking questions in future board exams, the CISCE has introduced an Item Bank of Competency-Focused Practice Questions for select subjects at the ICSE and ISC levels. This Item Bank provides a rich array of both objective and subjective questions designed to enhance students' critical and analytical thinking abilities. Each question in the bank is accompanied by details on the topic and the cognitive learning domain it addresses. The questions cover various cognitive domains, including understanding, analysis, application, evaluation, and creativity, along with some that require higher-order recall.

An Answer Key is provided to offer possible responses to each question, though it is not intended to be limiting or exhaustive. The practice questions in the Item Bank are also designed to be valuable resources for teachers, useful for classroom assignments, and as models for creating a customized set of competency-focused questions. Engaging with these questions allows students to evaluate their subject competencies and establish individualized learning pathways.

The Item Bank was developed by a dedicated team of CISCE teachers, with questions carefully selected by both internal and external reviewers to ensure they meet the criteria for higher-order competency-based assessments. Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary of CISCE, expressed appreciation for the ICSE and ISC subject matter experts who contributed to the creation and review of this collection. He voiced optimism that teachers and students would utilize these questions to enhance their teaching and learning experiences.