Tripura and Maharashtra top the list of toughest Board exams in India: Check the full list here

NEW DELHI: A recent report by the National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) body has revealed significant disparities in the difficulty level of Class 10 and 12 board exams across India. Based on an analysis of English and Mathematics question papers from 17 school education boards, the report indicates that students in certain states face a more challenging examination environment. The analysis, conducted on English and Mathematics question papers from 17 school education boards, has sparked a debate on the varying standards of education across India.
Most challenging Board exams of India
According to the PARAKH report, Tripura emerged as the state with the highest proportion of 'hard' questions. Maharashtra closely followed, with Goa, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal rounding out the top five. These states consistently presented students with a higher challenge, demanding a deeper understanding of concepts and problem-solving abilities.
Boards with the Highest Proportion of Hard Questions

In the PARAKH analysis of the five educational boards, Chhattisgarh students fared better since their exams included a comparable percentage (47.62%) of ‘easy’ questions. On the other hand, Goa's exams consisted of only ‘hard’ and ‘medium’ level questions, with ‘medium’ questions making up 55.34% and no ‘easy’ questions at all. According to the PARAKH report, Maharashtra's exams featured an equal distribution of ‘easy,’ ‘hard,’ and ‘medium’ questions.

Defined: Easy, Medium and Hard
The report categorises questions into three levels: easy, medium, and hard. While 'easy' questions are expected to be answered correctly by a majority of students, 'hard' questions pose a challenge to most.

Easy Questions: Easy questions are those that a large majority of learners, who have been exposed to the relevant learning opportunities, would be expected to answer correctly. These questions are designed to assess basic understanding and knowledge that most students are likely to have mastered.

Medium Questions: Medium questions are those that require a moderate level of understanding and application of knowledge. These questions would typically be answered correctly by a substantial portion of learners, though not as high as those answering easy questions. They are intended to assess a deeper level of understanding and the ability to apply knowledge in more complex ways.

Hard Questions: Hard questions are those that only a minority of learners would be able to answer correctly. These questions are designed to challenge students' higher-order thinking skills and their ability to apply knowledge in novel or complex situations. They assess the depth of understanding and the ability to synthesise and evaluate information.

Board exams with easy to medium level difficulty
The PARAKH study analysed question papers from 17 school education boards, including those in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Manipur, Odisha, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala. Additionally, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts ICSE and ISC exams, was included. The report concluded that the majority of questions across these boards fell within the 'easy to medium' difficulty range.

Cognitive Demands of different Board exams
The PARAKH analysis also evaluated the ‘cognitive demand’ of question papers across 17 school boards, identifying the proportion of questions testing rote memory versus understanding. Here is the summary of the findings for selected boards:


Disparity in Board exam difficulty level, a cause of concern
The findings of the PARAKH report have raised concerns about the disparity in the difficulty level of board exams across states. While some argue that challenging exams promote academic rigour and identify top talent, others express apprehensions about the potential negative impact on students' mental health and overall learning experience.

Education experts have called for a comprehensive review of the board exam structure and a standardised evaluation process to ensure fair assessment of students' abilities. They emphasise the importance of balancing the need for rigorous evaluation with the overall well-being and holistic development of students. As the debate on exam standards intensifies, it is crucial to find a solution that promotes academic excellence while ensuring equitable opportunities for all students.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the information available in the PARAKH report. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, please refer to the original report.
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