CBSE Board Exams 2023 vs JEE Main 2023: Things you need to know

CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 exams are considered as important milestones for every student. In 2022, the CBSE conducted board exams in two terms for Classes 10 and 12. This step was taken due to the pandemic. The syllabus was divided into two halves for each term. Term 1 comprised multiple-choice questions of 90 marks while term 2 comprised only subjective questions of 120 marks. 

This two terms policy created stress amongst the students. Especially those students who were preparing for NEET and JEE felt a lot of pressure as they have to focus on the new board exam pattern too. Adjusting to a new exam pattern takes time and skills. Students had to give more time to board-exam preparation which hindered their JEE or NEET preparations.  

Thankfully, CBSE has decided to adopt the old policy for 2023. CBSE has announced that Class 10 and Class 12 board exams will be conducted from February 15 2023 and there will be only one board exam in 2023. The changes suggested by CBSE for 2023 board exams are given below: 

1. Only 1 board exam in 2023

CBSE has announced that only 1 board exam will be conducted in 2023. In 2022, board exams were conducted in two terms. For calculating the results, CBSE gave 30% weightage to term 1 and 70% to term 2 for theory papers while equal weightage was given to practical exams. However, this system will not continue in 2023 and there will be only one exam in this year. 

2. 30% syllabus cut 

In addition to the change in exam pattern, CBSE has also announced to cut down the syllabus for Class 9 to Class 12 by 30%. You can check the curriculum for 2023 on the official website of CBSE that is, cbseacademic.nic.in. 

3. Sample papers and marking scheme for CBSE

CBSE has also provided sample papers, marking scheme and question bank for the 2023 examination. Students can download them for free from the official website of CBSE, cbseacademic.nic.in. Sample papers are really necessary for students as they help them understand the exam pattern and the marking scheme of CBSE. Sample papers familiarise them with the types of questions asked in the board exams.

While this is happening at the school front, many students are eagerly waiting for JEE and NEET notifications to roll out for 2023. But they will have to wait for sometime more as it is expected that the NEET 2022 notifications will be released in the first week of December 2023 while the JEE Main 2023 notification will be released in November 2022. 

However, students are advised to start their preparations as there is less than a year left in both these competitive exams. Here is the expected schedule for your reference:

JEE Main 2023 Exam Date (Tentative Schedule) 

NEET 2023 Exam Date (Tentative Schedule)

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Will there be a CBSE board exam in 2023? 

Yes, there will be a board examination by CBSE in 2023. It will be conducted around February 15. This information was released by CBSE during the CBSE results in 2022. 

2. Is CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board examination any more important? 

Class 10 and Class 12 board exams are a milestone for every student. Many colleges still consider Class 12 marks during admission even though the 75% criteria is no more applicable in entrance tests like JEE Main. Getting a good score in Class 10 and Class 12 is a big achievement for lifetime.

3. What is the new CBSE exam pattern for Class 10? 

Class 10 board exams will include three types of questions. 40% questions will be multiple choice questions, 20% of the questions will be competency-based questions and 40% of the questions will be short-answer type questions or long-answer type questions. 

4. What is the new CBSE exam pattern for Class 12? 

Class 12 board exams will include three types of questions. 20% questions will be multiple choice questions, 30% of the questions will be competency-based questions and 50% of the questions will be short-answer type questions or long-answer type questions. 

5. What is JEE Main? 

JEE Main or Joint Entrance Examination Main is conducted every year for admissions into the B.E/B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning courses after Class 12. With JEE Main scores, students can take admissions into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs participating through the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB). JEE Main also serves as an eligibility test for JEE Advanced that allows students to get admission into IITs. 

6. What is NEET?

NEET or National Eligibility Entrance Test is a qualifying test for  MBBS and BDS programmes in Indian medical and dental colleges. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

7. Will there be JEE Main in 2023? 

Yes, JEE Main will be conducted in 2023 in two sessions - January and April. The official notification for JEE Main 2023 will be released in November 2022. 

8. Which IIT will conduct JEE Advanced in 2023? 

JEE Advanced 2023 will be conducted by IIT Guwahati. 

9. When should we apply for NEET 2023? 

NEET 2023 registrations have not started yet. They are expected to begin from the first week of December 2023. Students must keep checking the NTA NEET website or askIITians blogs for the latest updates. 

10. What is the age limit for NEET 2023? 

Age limit is an important eligibility criteria for NEET. Candidates must be 17 years old at the time of admission or on or before December 31, 2023, according to the NEET 2023 eligibility requirements.