CBSE Controller of Examinations guides students on word limits, quoting, and formulas to maximize marks

With the start of the CBSE board exams, students frequently struggle with issues about exam strategies, scoring schemes, and the most effective way to respond to various question types. In order to solve these issues, Sanyam Bhardwaj, the CBSE Controller of Examinations, offers comprehensive guidance to the students.

Answering the question about the word limit for 10-mark questions in language subjects and whether marks are deducted for exceeding it, he said, "Generally, the word limit is mentioned in the question. However, it’s best to check your specific curriculum or exam guidelines. While marks are not deducted for exceeding the limit, no extra marks will be awarded either. So, there’s no benefit to writing more. Think carefully before writing your answer, keeping the value points in mind."

Exceeding the word limit can have several drawbacks for students. It may cause them to stray from the main point or include unnecessary details, which can make their answer less focused.

Additionally, writing too much can take up more time, potentially affecting performance in the rest of the exam. It’s better for students to stick to the recommended word limit to ensure their answer remains clear, concise, and directly addresses the question.

Bhardwaj explained, “Board questions are designed to require specific answers. Carefully understand what each question demands before answering. If you feel a quote is relevant to your answer, you may include it,” regarding how writing quotes without citing authors may affect marks in Hindi or English essay questions.

“For a better understanding of what’s expected in answers, refer to sample question papers and study the marking schemes. These two documents will help you understand the requirements for different types of questions, including when and how to use quotes,” he added.

Answering about the passage questions, he said, “For passage-based questions, it's generally better to paraphrase or rephrase answers in your own words rather than using exact quotes. This approach demonstrates a true understanding of the content, as it shows you can interpret and explain the text effectively.”

“Paraphrasing also helps ensure clarity and conciseness, leading to more focused answers that avoid unnecessary repetition. Directly copying from the passage can result in redundant content, and long quotes may include irrelevant information. Since marks are awarded for both accuracy and expression, using your own words not only reflects your comprehension but also highlights your language proficiency and writing skills,” he added.

“The best approach is to combine both methods—using your own words for explanations while including key phrases from the passage when necessary to support your points,” he continued.

CBSE generally follows step-marking in exams, meaning that even if a student doesn’t arrive at the final answer in a math question, they can still earn partial marks for using the correct formula, following the proper method, or clearly outlining the steps.

It's important to show the steps clearly, as attempting the subsequent calculations—even if they contain mistakes—can still earn partial marks.

However, simply writing down the formula without any further explanation or steps won't be enough to secure marks. The key is to demonstrate the process, not just the formula itself.