Evaluation System

Evaluation and Assessment is an integral component of any teaching-learning system. The Government of India in 1990 vested NIOS with the authority to examine and certify students up to pre-degree level, and thus, NIOS became one of the National Boards of Examination. It is the only Board which conducts two full-fledged examinations every year during April/May and October/Novermber. NIOS has been conducting its public examinations since 1991.

Unique Features of the NIOS Examination System

• NIOS does not have the infrastructure of its own. It shares the infrastructure and human resources of the institutions established by the public sector and private sector to conduct its examinations without disturbing their academic schedule.
• NIOS gives a lot of flexibility to the students in matters related to examination such as (no compulsion of appearing in all the subjects at the same examination) appearing in one or more subjects in the examination as per the convenience, credit accumulation of the passed subjects, nine chances to appear in the public examinations over a period of five years, and transfer of credit of two subjects passed from other selected boards and up to four subjects in the case of ex-NIOS learners.
• A student is allowed to write answers in the examination in any of the scheduled languages of India except language papers even if he/she has not opted for that medium.
• A student can appear in On Demand Examination at Secondary level and Senior Secondary level examination any number of times as per his/her convenience.

The National Institute of Open Schooling has the following features Innovations in its Evaluation System:

The National Institute of Open Schooling has certain features in its evaluation system such as freedom to answer the questions in Public Examinations in any one of the scheduled regional languages, although the Question Papers supplied would generally be in English and Hindi available Regional mediums only. Intimation letter and Certificate have scanned photographs of the learners; and the information about Examination Centres and results are made available online. Besides, NIOS has been doing innovations in the evaluation system to maintain its credibility and standards. The On Demand Examination System at Secondary and Senior Secondary level for the registered canditates is one such innovation.

• Freedom to answer the question in Public Examinations in any one of the scheduled regional Languages, although the Question Papers supplied would generally be in English and Hindi/available Regional medium only.
• Hall Tickets available online at Student Dashboard
• Information about examination centres and results are made available online.

The NIOS is a National Board for Secondary and Senior Secondary Examinations similar to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

The Public Examinations are held twice a year in the months of April-May and October-November on dates fixed by the NIOS. However, you are also eligible to appear through On Demand Examination at Secondary Level and Senior Secondary level in those subjects only in which you have admission in NIOS. Registration for Public Examination for admission through Online under Stream-1 and unsuccessful learners from Stream-2. For appearing in NIOS examination, the learner must register himself/herself by filling up the Examination Form online by paying requisite examination fee as per schedule given.

1. For April-May Examination : 21st Nov to 20th December (without late Fee) or as per the notification
2. For April-May Examination : 21st Dec to 31st Dec (with late fee of Rs. 100 per subject) or as per the notification
3. For April-May Examination : 01st Jan to 10th January (with consolidated Late Fee of Rs. 1500) or as per the notification
4. For October-November Examination : 21st May to 20th June (without late Fee)or as per the notification
5. For October-November Examination : 21st June to 30th June (with late Fee of Rs. 100 per subject) or as per the notification
6. For October-November Examination : 01st July to 10th July (with consolidated late Fee of Rs. 1500) or as per the notification

The learner can register for Public Examinations through only online. The examination fee can be paid through Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking only.

IMPORTANT NOTE

• The learner admitted to the Senior Secondary Course must ensure essential gap of two years from the year of passing the Secondary examination for the purpose of obtaining a certificate at the Senior Secondary level. If learner does not have the requisite gap of two years, he/she can appear in a maximum of four subjects only in the forthcoming April- May examination and subsequent October-November Examination. In case a learner is registered for more than 4 subjects, then first 4 subject shall be considered for appearing in the examination. He/she will be eligible to appear in the remaining subjects only on completion of the two years gap. In the absence of the two years gap, his/her examination fee will be adjusted for the first four opted subjects and the remaining fee, if paid for other subjects, will be forfeited.
• Fixation of Examination Centre is the prerogative of NIOS. However, the Examination Centres are normally fixed at District Headquarters, Sub-Divisional Headquarters and other available places near to the AIs.
• Please contact the concerned AI or log on to NIOS website about two weeks prior to commencement of examination for finding out details regarding Examination Centre and Date Sheet.
• Intimation letters and Certificates have scanned photographs of the learners. The information about Examination Centres and result are made available on the NIOS website.
• The learner has to appear in the Examination Centre allotted to him/her by NIOS. The decision of NIOS with regard to allotment of the Examination Centre will be final.
• In case a learner appears in an Examination Centre other than the one allotted by NIOS, his/her result will not be declared and his/her case will be treated as having resorted to unfair means.

Please, follow the links below for the details on:

• For the list of Boards which have recognised the NIOS Examinations.
• For the list of Universities / Institutions which have recognised the NIOS Examinations.

Details of Examination System at NIOS:

• Bye - Laws Governing Examinations and Certification  (REVISED AND AMENDED UP TO 2021  
• Guideline for Centre Superintendent - Theory 
• Guideline for Centre Superintendent - Practical - Revised 
• Guidelines for establishment of Examination Centre
• Guidelines for Spot Evaluation
• Re-evaluation of Answer Scripts
• Policy on "Unfair Means"  
• General and Specific Relaxations (Disability wise) During NIOS Examination

• Credit Accumulation
• Improvement of Performance
• Issue of Certificate
• Policy on "Mass Copying"
• Public Examination Fees
• Other Miscellaneous Fees