Is AISSCE and CBSE the Same?
The All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are two of the most prominent school examination boards in India. While they share some commonalities, there are some key differences between the two as well.
The AISSCE, commonly known as Class 12 board exams, is conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). On the other hand, the CBSE conducts exams for Classes 10 and 12 and is one of the most popular national-level boards in the country.
In this article, we analyze the history, administration, curriculum, examination patterns, and overall framework of AISSCE and CBSE to understand how they compare.
Brief History of AISSCE and CBSE
AISSCE History
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) was set up in 1989 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. NIOS conducts the AISSCE exams across India and abroad for students who complete Class 12.
Over the years, NIOS has emerged as the largest open schooling system in the world with around 3 million students enrolled. The AISSCE conducted by NIOS is recognized for admissions to higher education and government employment.
CBSE History
The origins of CBSE date back to 1921, when it was formed as the Central Advisory Board of Education. In 1952, the board was renamed Central Board of Secondary Education. CBSE is currently one of the world’s largest exam conducting bodies.
As of 2022, CBSE has more than 22,000 affiliated schools in India and 26 other countries. Every year, over 2.5 million students appear for the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. The certification is widely recognized for higher education and employment.
Board Structures and Administration
AISSCE Board Structure
The NIOS has its headquarters in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. The Chairman of NIOS is appointed by the Government of India. The board has a Secretary, who is generally from the Indian Administrative Services.
NIOS has 8 regional centers across India located in major cities. These regional centers facilitate student enrollments, form registrations, information dissemination, grievance handling among other services. They also have material production and distribution divisions.
CBSE Board Structure
The CBSE headquarters is situated in Delhi. The governing body constitutes of a Chairman, Director (Academics, Training, Innovation), Controller of Examinations, and several other administrative officers.
The Central Board has 10 regional offices in India and 1 office in Dubai to manage exam coordination. There are also 21 functional cells that overlook activities like academics, skill education, international collaborations etc.
Curriculum and Examinations
AISSCE Curriculum and Exams
The AISSCE curriculum is modeled around National Curriculum Framework 2005 and updated based on industry trends. Students have the choice to opt for 5 subjects including English or Hindi. Popular subject combinations are:
- Humanities: Political Science, History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology etc.
- Commerce: Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics
- Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics
The exam pattern is similar to CBSE. Theory papers are 80 marks each while project work in each subject carries 20 marks. Students need to secure a minimum 33% in aggregate to pass the AISSCE.
CBSE Curriculum and Exams
The CBSE curriculum from Class 9-12 is structured around National Curriculum Framework 2005. Students have to take compulsory subjects and select electives across humanities, commerce and science streams.
The Class 12 board exams consist of theory and practical components. Each theory paper is for 80 marks while practicals are for 30 marks. Students have to secure a minimum 33% in aggregate and individually in all subjects to qualify.
Performance Analysis and Statistics
AISSCE Performance Analysis
As per NIOS statistics, over 2,00,000 students appeared for the AISSCE 2022 examinations. The overall pass percentage stood at 65.07% witnessing a decline from the previous year.
Telugu medium students recorded the best score of 84.28% pass percentage. Kerala region had the highest pass rate at 76% among all regions in India.
CBSE Performance Analysis
In 2022, over 14.44 lakh students appeared for the CBSE 12th boards of which 13.30 lakh passed the exams. The overall pass percentage stood at 92.71% slightly lower than last year.
Girls outperformed boys by 3.29% securing a pass rate of 94.54%. Trivandrum region recorded the highest pass percentage at 98.83% among all CBSE regions in India.
Key Differences Between the Boards
While AISSCE and CBSE have some common features in their curriculum and exam patterns, there are some prominent differences when it comes to affiliations, subjects, evaluation etc.
Affiliation and Recognition
The AISSCE is conducted by NIOS which is recognized by the central government. The CBSE on the other hand is a national-level school education board affiliated to the central government.
Over 22,000 schools across India and abroad are affiliated to CBSE whereas NIOS operates through its network of regional centres.
Curriculum Framework
The CBSE curriculum from Classes 9-12 is designed around core subjects as per NCF 2005. NIOS curriculum for AISSCE also maps to NCF 2005 but additionally has vocational education subjects.
Examination Patterns
The CBSE board exams for Class 12 cover theory papers for 80 marks and practical/projects for 30 marks per subject. The AISSCE exam pattern comprises 80 marks theory papers and 20 marks practical/project in each subject.
Evaluation Process
After exams, the CBSE answer sheets are evaluated centrally by certified examiners at designated evaluation centres.
The AISSCE papers are evaluated by trained teachers at NIOS headquarters and regional centres. Results are published on the official NIOS website.
Conclusion
While AISSCE by NIOS and CBSE Class 12 exams have their unique curriculum and evaluation methods, both certificates are recognized for admissions by universities and colleges.
The choice between AISSCE and CBSE would depend upon factors like subject combinations, access to schools, academic flexibility needed by students and stream selected after 12th. With high pass percentages and recognition by government, both boards provide learning certifications necessary for higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common queries related to AISSCE and CBSE comparison:
Is AISSCE equivalent to CBSE 12th?
Yes, the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) conducted by NIOS is equivalent to the Class 12 exams conducted by CBSE and recognized across universities.
What is the full form of AISSCE?
AISSCE stands for All India Senior School Certificate Examination. It is a public examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
Can I get admission in Indian colleges after passing AISSCE?
Yes, the AISSCE certificate awarded by NIOS is recognized by colleges, universities and technical/professional institutes for admission just like CBSE.
What are the key differences between AISSCE and CBSE curriculums?
The major differences are that AISSCE includes additional vocational subjects, has less stringent subject combinations, 20 marks practical exams and centralized paper evaluations.
Which board is better and tougher between the two?
Both AISSCE and CBSE are equivalent boards for pursuing higher education. CBSE syllabus is considered more compact and exam patterns are tougher than NIOS. But both have similar recognition and value.
