Problem Solving Assessment (PSA) for Class IX and Class XI - Sample Papers

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is initiating  “Problem Solving Assessment” (CBSE- PSA) for students of Classes IX and XI from the second term of session 2012-13.

The Examination shall be held on 16th February,2013 (Saturday) from 10.00 AM to 12.00 Noon in all schools except the schools falling in Winter Bound areas.

The sample question paper of Problem Solving Assessment for classes IX and XI  and sample OMR
sheet is available on  CBSE website www.cbse.nic.in  under Academic Section.
The examination shall be conducted in the school.
As mentioned in the earlier circulars, the Problem Solving Assessment score will be counted towards FA-4 of class-IX.  This same score will be reflected in one language (English or Hindi), Mathematics, Science and Social Science. Regular FA-4 will be conducted in the other language.

The features of the `Problem Solving Assessment’ (CBSE-PSA) will be as follows: -  

1. Itwill be compulsory for all students of Classes IX and carry 90 marks. There will be 60 items of MCQ type.

2. There is no specific syllabus for `Problem Solving Assessment’ (CBSE-PSA). Itwill assess the following areas:-

Quantitative Reasoning

Qualitative Reasoning

Language Conventions

3. The items will incorporate aspects of 21^st Century Skills (Creative Thinking, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Communication) that lead to success at Secondary  Stage. They wouldbe assessing student’s ability to process, interpret and use information rather than assessing student’s prior subject matter knowledge.

4. The Assessmentin language will contain items that will assess grammar, usage, vocabulary incontext and passage-completion.

5. The items inProblem Solving Assessment’ (CBSE-PSA)will be designed in such a way so as to improve the generic and higher order thinking skills. This will also result in improving scores within the core school subjects.

6. All items will be prepared in Hindi and English.

7. The `Problem Solving Assessment’ (CBSE-PSA) willbe done during the month of  January–February 2013 for students of Class IX.

8. The `Problem Solving Assessment’ (CBSE-PSA) will be counted towards FA-4 which is 10% of total assessments of Class IX.  This assessment will also be carried forward towards the FA-4 in Class X.This score will be reflected in one Language (English or Hindi), Mathematics, Science and Social Science w.e.f the session 2012-2013 for Class IX and 2013  – 14 for Class X. The same score will be reflected in FA-4 for class IX and Class X.

9. The students will have the option to improve their PSA Score in Class X, as they can sit for the test with Class IX students of the Session 2013-2014 in January  – February 2014.  The best scores will be reflected in the final certificatein case of those applying for improvement.

10. The schools which have already planned their time table and other details regarding FA-4 will take the best scores ofFA-3 and FA-4 to count towards the total 10%, now available for FA-3 and FA-4 taken together.

11. There will be no separate time tables or periods for teaching or practice of PSA in schools.

Sample Question Paper 

PSA Sample Papers Class IX    English  
PSA Sample Papers Class IX Hindi   
PSA Sample Papers Class IX Class XI    English   
PSA Sample Papers Class IX Hindi  

PSA Sample Anwser Sheet

PSA Frequently Asked Questions