The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently announced that it would use advanced data analytics to detect & prevent cheating in exams conducted by the board (i.e., CBSE 10th & 12th board exams, CTET, etc.). 

The board will use advanced data analytics to detect cases at centres where there is a high probability of recourse to unfair means during exams which will also help strengthen the reliability of the National Achievement Survey (NAS), Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET) and board examinations conducted by CBSE.

As per the CBSE Circular, a pilot analysis was completed on January 2021 CTET examination data in collaboration with Central Square Foundation (CSF) & Playpower Labs to develop algorithms to identify suspicious data patterns at the centre & the individual test-taker level. Based on the analysis results & the algorithms developed, CBSE has planned that such analysis will be extended to other administered exams.

“The board will use advanced data analytics to detect, respond and therefore, in the long run, prevent any irregularities in academic testing across all major CBSE administered exams in the country. Post this; appropriate measures can be taken by CBSE to strengthen the reliability of the examinations and to deter any such malpractices in the future. This will be used to strengthen the reliability of National Achievement Survey (NAS), Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET) and Board examinations conducted by CBSE,” said Antriksh Johri, Director (IT), CBSE. 

CBSE intends to identify examination centres where data shows the presence of malpractices during the conduct of examinations based on such analysis. Following this, CBSE can take suitable measures to increase the examinations’ credibility and deter future malpractices.