CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

Changes in the Design of the Question Papers – Classes IX & X SA II in
English Communicative and Language & Literature

The design of the question papers in English – Communicative and English
Language & Literature for Classes IX & X has undergone a few changes. The
question papers will be set on the basis of the new design for the Summative
Assessment II in the current academic session.

The Changes are as under.

Question Paper Design SA 2

English Communicative

Classes IX & X

Code No. 101

In the existing scheme of the question paper students answer questions
based on four unseen passages carrying five marks each –all the questions are
MCQs. The change proposed is that students be given two passages (carrying 5+5
marks) out of four which are based on MCQ responses. The other two should
require effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme

• Students will be expected to attempt four passages carrying five marks
  each.
• Passage types will include literary, discursive or factual. One
  out of the four passages will be a poem.
• Two out of four passages will have Multiple Choice Questions
  carrying 5+5=10 marks
• Two out of four passages will have questions wherein students
  will be expected to supply the responses. This will carry 5+5=10 marks.
  Question types will be :
  
  -Sentence completion
  
  -Gap filling

Note: The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 20 Marks in
the Reading Section to 10 Marks

The writing section comprises three writing tasks as indicated below:

Q.5. A short answer question of upto 80 words in the form of a
Biographical Sketch (expansion of notes on an individual’s life or
achievements into a short paragraph)/Data Interpretation, Dialogue Writing
or Description (People,Places, Events). (4 Marks)

The question will assess students’ skill of expressing ideas in clear and
grammatically correct English, presenting ideas coherently and concisely,
writing

a clear description, a clear account of events, expanding notes into a piece of
writing or transcoding information from one form to another.

Q.6. A long answer question (minimum 120 words) in the form of
a formal letter/ informal letter or an email. The output would be a long piece
of writing and will

assess the use of appropriate style, language, content and expression. (8
Marks)

Q.7. A long answer question (minimum 150 words) in the form of
a diary entry, article, speech, story or debate. (8 Marks)

Students’ skills in expression of ideas in clear and grammatically correct
English, planning, organising and presenting ideas coherently by introducing,
developing

and concluding a topic, comparing and contrasting ideas and arriving at a
conclusion, presenting an argument with supporting examples, using an
appropriate style and format and expanding notes into longer pieces of writing
and creative expression of ideas will be assessed.

Important Notes on Format and Word Limit:

• Format will not carry any separate marks and in most cases, format will
  be given in the question paper.
• The word limit given is the suggested minimum word limit. No candidate
  may be penalised for writing more or less than the suggested word limit.
  Stress should be on content, expression, coherence and relevance of the
  content presented.

In the existing scheme of the question paper students answer five
questions of four marks each –all MCQs that test various grammatical items in
context. The change proposed is that students be given two questions (carrying
4+4 marks) out of five which are based on MCQ responses. The other three should
require effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme:

• This section will carry five questions of four marks each
• Out of five questions two questions (questions 8 and 9) carrying 4
  marks each ie total eight marks will have MCQs .The test types for MCQs
  include:
  
  -Gap filling
  
  -Sentence completion
  
  -Dialogue completion
• Question 10, 11, and 12 will be based on response supplied by
  students.

These test types which will not be tested as MCQs include

-Sentence reordering

-Editing

-Omission

-Sentence transformation

Note : The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 20
marks in the grammar section to 8 marks

In the existing scheme of the question paper students answer questions based
on two extracts out of three for reference to context (Prose/poetry or
play) carrying three marks each (Total-6 Marks) –all MCQs.

The change proposed is that students be given one extract for reference to
context (carrying 3 marks) out of two which is based on MCQ responses. The other
extract should require effort on the part of the students to supply the
responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme:

Q.13. A One out of two extracts for reference to context
with MCQs (based on poetry / prose/drama) .The extract will carry 3
marks.

B) One extract for reference to context (based on poetry /
prose/drama) where students will be expected to supply the answer. The
extract will carry 3 marks. (6 Marks)

Q.14. Four out of five short answer type questions based
on prose, poetry or plays of 2 marks each. The questions will not test
recall but inference and evaluation. (8 Marks)

Q.15. One out of two long answer type questions to
assess personal response to text by going beyond the text/ poetry / prose/drama.
Creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across two texts
will also be assessed. (6 Marks)

Note: The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 06 Marks
in the Literature Section to 3 Marks

Question Paper Design SA- 2

English Language and Literature

Classes IX & X

Code No. 184

In the existing scheme of the question paper students answer questions
based on three unseen passages (total--500 words) carrying five marks each –all
MCQs.

The change proposed is that students be given two passages (carrying 5+5
marks) out of three which are based on MCQ responses. One passage with
questions carrying 5 marks should be such that it requires effort on the part
of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme

• Students will be expected to attempt three passages carrying five marks
  each.
• Passage types will include literary, discursive or factual. One
  out of the three passages will be a poem.
• Two out of three passages will have Multiple Choice Questions
  carrying 5+5=10 marks
• One out of three passages will have questions wherein
  students will be expected to supply the responses. This will carry 5marks.
  Question types will be :
  
  -Sentence completion
  
  -Gap filling

Note: The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 15 Marks
in the Reading Section to 10 Marks 5

Q.4. Letter Writing: One out of two letters (formal/informal/email)
in not more than 100 words based on verbal stimulus and context provided.

Types of letter: Informal – personal, such as to family and friends.

Formal – letters to the Editor.

Email – formal letters to principal of the school or to the editor of a
Newspaper or a Magazine. (6 Marks)

Q.5. Writing an article, speech or debate based on visual or
verbal stimulus in not'more than 120 words (One out of two). 6 Marks

Q.6. Writing a short composition in the form of dialogue
writing/story or report of minimum 80 words (One out of two). (3
Marks)

In the existing scheme of the question paper Students answer five
questions ofthree marks each –all MCQs.

The change proposed is that students be given two questions (carrying 3+3 marks)
out of five which are based on MCQ responses. The other three should require
effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

In the proposed question paper scheme:

• This section will carry five questions of three marks each
• Out of five questions two questions (questions 7 and 8) carrying 6
  marks will have MCQs of three marks each .The test types for MCQs include:
  
  -Gap filling
  
  -Sentence completion
  
  -Dialogue completion
• Question 9, 10, and 11(carrying 3 marks each ie total 9 marks)
  will be based on response supplied by students.

These test types which will not be tested as MCQs include

• Sentence reordering
• Editing
• Omission
• Sentence transformation (including combining sentences)

Note : The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 15
marks in the grammar section to 6 marks

In the existing scheme of the question paper students answer questions
based on two extracts for reference to context (prose or play) of four marks

each(Total 8 Marks) –all MCQs.

They also answer two out of three reference to the context stanzas carrying 3
marks each (total 6 marks) from a poem followed by MCQs to test local and global
comprehension

The change proposed is that students be given two extracts for reference to
the context (prose or play) (carrying 4 marks each). These extracts would
require effort on the part of the students to supply the responses.

Two out of three extracts for reference to the context from poetry (carrying
3 marks each—total six marks)) which have questions for MCQ responses. In the
proposed question paper scheme:

Q.12. (a) and (b) Two extracts for reference to context (based on
prose or play). These extracts would require effort on the part of the
students to supply the responses The extracts will carry (4 marks each)
(8 Marks)

Q.13 Two out of three reference to context stanzas (based on poetry)
followed by 3 MCQs to test local and global comprehension of the set text
.The extracts will carry 3 marks each. (6 Marks)

Q14. Three out of four short answer type questions based
on prose or plays to test local and global comprehension of theme and ideas --
2 marks each. (40-50 words) (6 Marks)

Q15. One out of two long answer type questions
extrapolative in nature based on prose or play. (Upto 80 words). (5 Marks)

Q 16 One out of two long answer questions from supplementary reader to
interpret, evaluate and analyze character, plot or situations occurring in
lessons to be answered in about 80 words. (4 Marks)

Q 17 Two out of three short answer type questions based on factual
aspects, interpretation and evaluation of a lesson. (40-50 words) (6 Marks)

Note: The weightage given to MCQs to be reduced from the existing 14 Marks
in the Literature Section to 6 Marks

This may be brought to the notice of the English teachers and the students of
Classes of IX and X. The Sample Question Papers set on the changed design are
available on the CBSE website:
www.cbse.nic.in

Courtesy: Cbse.nic.in