The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved introducing open-book assessments for Class 9, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This major shift, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCFSE 2023), moves the focus from rote memorisation toward deeper learning, application and critical thinking.
In this blog we’ll explore:
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What the change entails for Class 9 students and schools
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Why CBSE is introducing open-book exams
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How this links to NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023
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Challenges and opportunities for teachers, students and parents
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Practical tips to prepare for open-book assessments
What’s Changing: Open-Book Exams for Class 9
Beginning in the 2026-27 session, CBSE will allow schools to integrate open-book format assessments in Class 9 internal examinations in subjects like Languages, Mathematics, Science and Social Science.
Key points:
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These will be internal assessments (not board exams) – part of the term-end pen-and-paper exams conducted by schools.
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Schools will be provided guidelines—but the format is not mandatory; it will serve as a model for those who wish to adopt it.
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The aim: enable students to refer to textbooks, notes, library material during exam, shifting the assessment from memory-based to skills-based.
In short: If your school is affiliated to CBSE, and it chooses to adopt this format, Class 9 students will sit one (or more) of their internal exams in open-book mode from 2026-27.
Why the Shift: From Memorisation to Application
The Rationale
Traditionally, many school examinations emphasised memorising facts and reproducing them under exam conditions. NEP 2020 and the NCFSE 2023 emphasise a different approach: competency, understanding, application, analysis.
Open-book assessments help in that direction: they test how a student uses information, interprets it, applies it—not just how much they remember.
Past Pilot & Experience
CBSE conducted a pilot in December 2023 for Classes 9–12 to evaluate time, feasibility and stakeholder perceptions. The results reportedly showed teacher support for the open-book format, noting that it encouraged a shift in classroom learning and in students’ exam preparation toward understanding and application.
CBSE had earlier tried a model called Open Text Based Assessment (OTBA) in 2014 for Classes 9 and 11 but discontinued it in 2017–18 due to limited impact on critical thinking. This time, the integration is explicitly linked to NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023, making the change more foundational rather than experimental.
Link to NEP 2020 / NCFSE 2023
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NEP 2020 advocates for holistic, flexible, application oriented learning and assessment.
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NCFSE 2023 builds on this by recommending assessments that emphasise higher-order cognitive skills (analysis, evaluation, creation) rather than rote recall.
Open-book assessment is a direct embodiment of these ideas: students refer to resources while answering, so the emphasis becomes how you use information, rather than how well you memorised it.
What This Means for Schools, Teachers & Students
For Schools
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Schools may need to revise internal assessment design: Questions must allow students to apply, interpret, analyse, not just recall.
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Teacher training and capacity building will be key: designing open-book questions and managing logistics. CBSE will provide guidelines.
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Infrastructure may need tweaking: students must have access to textbooks, notes, possibly library/resource materials during exam time—ensuring fairness and standardisation.
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Schools must decide: whether to adopt this model fully, partially, or continue traditional internal assessments.
For Teachers
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Shift in question-setting: Avoid purely knowledge-recall questions. Instead design tasks like “compare and contrast”, “use data from given case”, “solve problem using formula + resource”, etc.
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Coaching students to use materials effectively in exam time: not just flipping through textbooks, but having references organised, thinking time allocated.
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Support students’ transition: some students accustomed to memorisation will need guidance in applying and analysing.
For Students & Parents
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Mindset change: Memorising will not be enough. Students must understand concepts, organize their resources (notes, textbooks) and learn how to use them efficiently.
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Time management: Even though they have access to materials, questions will likely demand problem-solving or reasoning. So practise using materials rather than just reading them.
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Developing study habits: Maintain well-organised notes, index key formulae or facts, keep references handy, practice open-book style mock questions.
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Parents: Support your child in this transition. Encourage comprehension over rote, promote organising materials, liaise with teachers for clarity on how the school will adopt the new format.
Benefits & Potential Challenges
Benefits
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Reduced emphasis on rote learning: Students will be freed from trying to memorise every fact and instead focus on real understanding.
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Improved higher-order skills: Application, analysis, logical reasoning and use of resources become central.
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Better alignment with real-world skill demands: In the 21st century, being able to find, interpret and use information is more valuable than memorising.
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Reduced exam pressure: Having materials available may reduce anxiety and encourage students to focus on thinking rather than panicking.
Challenges
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Equity concerns: Students from resource-rich versus resource-poor schools may find differences in access to texts, notes, reference material. Schools must manage this carefully.
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Teacher readiness: Designing good open-book questions is harder and training is required.
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Student mindset: Students and parents accustomed to traditional memorisation may resist the change or find it confusing initially.
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Assessment time and logistics: Even with materials, open-book exams may need more time or structured monitoring to avoid misuse of resources.
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Standardisation: Ensuring that all schools interpret the format equally and that the assessments are fair across the board.
How to Prepare: Action Plan for 2026-27
For Schools
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Start pilot practices now: even before full roll-out, use open-book style internal tests to familiarise students and teachers.
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Conduct teacher workshops on designing open-book questions and managing assessments.
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Develop resource-kits: structured class-notes, indexing systems, textbook-reference quick-guides.
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Communicate with parents and students early: give clarity about what changes will happen, what expectations will be.
For Students
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Organise your study materials: create topic-wise summaries, mark important formulae, keep textbooks and notes ready and accessible.
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Practice open-book mock tests: Set timed tests where you are allowed to refer to books/notes. Focus on application questions: “Using this formula and the case below…”, “Analyse the data from this passage…”.
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Focus on understanding: Rather than rote memorising, ask yourself: Can I explain this concept in my own words? Can I apply it to a new scenario?
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Time-management practice: Having books doesn’t guarantee faster performance—practice how quickly you can locate relevant information and think through the question.
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Engage in group study: Discuss how you would use book/notes to answer questions—this helps build skill in searching and applying information rather than just reading.
For Parents
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Encourage your child’s focus on comprehension and application, not just memorising.
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Provide a quiet and resource-friendly study space: ensure textbooks, notes and possibly access to library or digital resources.
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Talk to the school about how this adjustment is being managed so you understand how your child will be assessed.
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Monitor for healthy study habits: it’s easy for students to mis-interpret open-book as “less work” but the reality is they need to work smarter.
Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture
The move by CBSE is more than just a change in exam format—it signals a shift in Indian schooling from memory-centred to skills-centred learning. With rapid technological change, global competition and an unpredictable future, it’s essential that students develop the ability to think, analyse, adapt, find information and apply knowledge.
The open-book assessment is one lever to push this larger vision of NEP 2020/NCFSE 2023 into practice at the ground level.
For Class 9 students, this means:
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The examination you face in 2026-27 will not just ask “What is …?” but may ask “Use this information and solve …”, “Analyse the scenario and conclude …”.
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Schools that adopt open-book assessments will reward your ability to use material intelligently, not just recall it.
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If you start preparing early, you’ll gain a head-start compared to peers who wait until the last minute.
For schools and educators, it means redesigning assessment culture, professional development, and student support systems. For parents, it means adjusting expectations and supporting a new style of studying.
Conclusion
The CBSE’s decision to introduce open-book exams for Class 9 (from 2026-27) under the umbrella of NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023 is a significant and welcome step. It is an opportunity to reshape how students learn, how assessments are designed and how educational success is measured.
While challenges remain—teacher readiness, standardization, resource equity—the benefits are compelling: more meaningful learning, better skill-development, reduced rote pressure.
For students, parents and educators connected to a forward-looking school in India, this is an invitation to evolve: to redefine what it means to prepare for exams, to shift how learning happens in classrooms, and to shape assessments that reflect real-life thinking and problem-solving. The journey may bring challenges, but it also presents a significant opportunity to make school assessments more meaningful, less stressful and better aligned with the demands of the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is an open-book exam in CBSE?
An open-book exam allows students to refer to textbooks, notes, or approved materials during the test. It focuses on understanding and applying concepts rather than memorization.
2. When will CBSE start open-book exams for Class 9?
CBSE will introduce open-book exams for Class 9 from the academic year 2026–27, following the National Education Policy (NEP) guidelines.
3. Which subjects will have open-book assessments?
Initially, the open-book format will apply to languages, mathematics, science, and social science, under internal assessment tests.
4. Will open-book exams make it easier for students?
Not necessarily. While they reduce rote memorization, students must still understand concepts deeply and apply them effectively under time constraints.
5. How should students prepare for open-book exams?
Focus on conceptual clarity, practice application-based questions, and learn how to locate and interpret information quickly — that’s smart exam preparation for this format.
