ISLAMABAD, May 15: The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) on Monday unveiled a reformed examination system which would be first implemented during the composite secondary school certificate examination in 2007.

Speaking at a press conference, the board chairman, Cdre (retired) Mohammad Sharif Shamshad, said the new examination system, a complete departure from old pattern, would be focused more on checking the critical and analytical abilities of students.

First time in the history of the country, a new examination system has been introduced, which be adopted by other boards, too, later on, he said.

The style of the question paper has been changed altogether. Now, instead of a single-page, students will be given 15 to 20 pages question papers. Rote learning would be of no help; students with thorough preparations and clear concepts will be able to solve the new question papers.

Under the new format, 30 per cent of the questions will be MCQs, 50 per cent short answers and 20 per cent of application nature.

Model question papers and resource material for teachers and students have been sent to all the FBISE-affiliated institutions within the country and abroad, the chairman said.

At a time when deteriorating standards of examination system are making it harder for students to compete for admissions to top-level national and international universities, FBISE has stepped forward with a promise to raise the quality of education, he said. The federal education minister has said the same examination system would be followed in rest of the country, the chairman said.

A considerable emphasis, while designing questions for the model papers, has been laid on testing students’ knowledge and comprehension besides application.

The current examination methodologies, which mainly test and enhance students’ ability to memorise a text book, have been discouraged.

The number of questions that involve rote learning has been minimised. The wide scope of choice, which had an adverse impact on the students, has been restricted in the model papers as it encourages them to do selective and partial studies.

Innovative and challenging questions will significantly influence the teachers’ learning process, classroom practice, curriculum and textbook development.

Responding to a question, the chairman said the board had made an offer to the affiliated institutions that it was ready to share 50 per cent cost of teachers training to make them conversant with the new examination system. The board will also provide master trainers in this regard.