SAFAL: Structured Assessment For Analysing Learning

In its commitment to the vision of New National Education Policy 2020 and to commemorate the first anniversary of NEP 2020, the Prime Minister of India launched SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analysing Learning), a competency-based assessment for grades 3, 5, and 8 introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

National Education Policy 2020 which recommends that for the benefit of students, parents, teachers, principals, and the entire schooling system in planning improvements to schools and teaching-learning processes, all students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which would test achievement of basic learning outcomes, through assessment of core concepts along with relevant higher-order skills and application of knowledge in real-life situations, rather than rote memorization.

SAFAL will be used to assess the progress of foundational skills and basic learning outcomes or competencies among students. SAFAL, as a diagnostic assessment, will provide developmental feedback to schools and teachers to improve teaching and learning without additional examination pressure on students. It has been designed to help students, parents, and teachers to track learning progress throughout the school years and not just in Grades 10 and 12. SAFAL results will not be used in any manner by schools for promotion of students to the next grade.

SAFAL Pilot 2021-22

SAFAL will be conducted on a pilot basis in CBSE schools for students in Grades 3, 5 and 8 during the academic year 2021-22, in key curricular areas of Language, Mathematics, and EVS or Science.

Grade 3: Pilot assessment for Language and Mathematics offered in the school’s language of instruction for Hindi and English medium schools.

Grade 5: Assessment for Language, EVS, and Mathematics offered in the school’s language of instruction for Hindi and English medium schools.

Grade 8: Assessment for Language, Science and, Mathematics offered in the school’s language of instruction for Hindi and English medium schools.

In the first year (2021-22), SAFAL will be conducted in a sample set of schools for Grade 3. For Grades 5 and 8, SAFAL will be offered to all schools.