Karnataka Education Department offers open book exams to encourage reading habits in students

The Department of School Education and Literacy in Karnataka has suggested open book exams for students of classes 8 to 10. The department claims in its handbook for the 2024–25 academic year that open-book exams can encourage children to read and boost their performance on the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC), which dropped to 74% this year. 

However, the examinations are just meant to be a practice test.

The department decided to introduce open book exams considering the declining SSLC pass percentage despite offering 20% grace marks and survey results showing a loss in students' learning ability during the two-year delay during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new method would give children more confidence and help them break free from rote learning.

The Educational Guidelines 2024–25, released by the department, also suggested subject-wise open book exams for 25 marks by preparing question papers at the school level and fixing the time limit to complete the exams. 

“Instead of making the students appear for the board exams directly, we are trying to prepare them this way. This will also help alleviate the anxiety associated with examinations,” an official said. 

Teachers applauded the change. “Open book exams are not easy if the students are not thorough with textbooks. So, this method will guide children away from rote learning and help them understand the concepts better,” said Mallesha D, a teacher at a government school in Bengaluru.

Schools should assign low-achieving students to remedial programs following a series of simulated exams. This could occur in residential programs where children receive performance-enhancing guidance. Conversely, children who excel ought to be sent to a district-level motivating camp where they would be supported and guided to rise through the ranks.

According to the circular, the students "should be asked to identify the answers from the respective textbooks and write the exams in each time frame. This will help them to cultivate the habit of reading and referring to textbooks regularly, and they will also understand the importance of studying textbooks.”

The department has also suggested implementing surprise exams, which children will self-evaluate to help them get experience in cracking exams and comprehending the grading process. To make learning the material engaging, it also recommended several events based on the syllabus, such as essay or debate competitions.