For the first time, students of Classes IX and XI of schools affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) answered their annual exams similar to board exams.

From this year, the CISCE is setting a centralised question paper across schools in India for Classes IX and XI students who will answer board exams next year to streamline their preparations in sync with the boards.

As reported earlier in The Telegraph, the council had received complaints that many schools taught portions of the syllabus according to their convenience and ease. However, the council rules state that the schools must cover all topics prescribed in each subject for every class and give weight to all chapters and units.

A centralised “board-like” exam, it is hoped, will serve as a course correction to schools as well as students.

On the first day, Class IX students answered English language and Class XI English literature in their respective classrooms. Class IX exams will end on February 26 and Class XI exams on March 4.

The two significant differences were that unlike earlier, students had to prepare the whole syllabus, not just portions meant for the year’s final exam, and teachers would have to evaluate these papers under the board pattern.

Principals of CISCE-affiliated schools welcomed the move.

“This year onwards students have to study the entire Class IX or XI syllabus as the case may be,” Preeti Sinha, principal of Gulmohur High School, Telco, said. “It is true that students have to study more now but it will prepare them better for board exams. We had prepared them with sample papers from the council website,” she said.

Principal of Dayanand Public School, Swarna Mishra said: “We saw they had become a little more serious about studies.”

Saistha Ranjan, a Class IX student of Sacred Heart Convent School, said it felt good to “see a trailer or sneak-peek of the board exam a year earlier”.

CISCE students of Class XII will answer board exams from Tuesday with accounts.