CBSE's aptitude tools for IX, X stds

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to roll out a new psychometric test tool this month for classes IX and X students to assess their aptitude before they make career choices.

The test tool, which will be shared by the board with its schools on January 29, has been developed by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

“The aptitude test will not be mandatory for any student. Administration of the KYA (know your aptitude) tools in the schools will be voluntary. However, students, teachers and parents shall be immensely benefited by it,” a CBSE official told DH.

The KYA tool has been prepared by the NCERT keeping in view "the needs of the students and their stage of education."

“As students enter secondary stage of schooling, they move closer to making many important career choices, one of which is deciding subjects to be studied at the senior secondary level such as Humanities, Commerce, Science or Vocational," the official said.

This decision of students is influenced by “a number of factors” such as their interests, attitudes, motivation, personality traits, and special abilities, “known as aptitude.”

“Aptitude is thought of as a natural tendency, special ability, or capacity or cluster of abilities. This natural tendency determines person’s readiness to learn or acquire a skill or their suitability to a particular career. Information about aptitude will be useful for students in seeking academic and or career guidance,” the official said.

The information about a student’s strengths and limitations would also help parents, teachers and the school administrators to extend support to the student while making such decisions.

“Keeping this in view, the NCERT has developed KYA tool for the students of classes IX and X. As a part of collaborative efforts in empowering the learners, the board has developed a mechanism to administer this valuable tool in its affiliated schools,” the official added.

In a recent communication, the board has asked the heads of its schools to download the KYA tool from its website where a link will be created to provide access to them from January 29.

However, it has warned the schools against any commercial use of the KYA tools, saying they are being shared “exclusively” for the benefit of the students studying in the CBSE-affiliated schools.

Besides test booklet and answer sheet, the KYA documents will include a guide for teachers and a technical manual to help them understand “the modalities" of administration of the tool, scoring and the interpretation.

“To take the KYA test, students do not need any preparation. Schools can administer the KYA tools on any convenient date on any working day,” the official said.