National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is a widespread platform for open schooling in India. It is recognised by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and students completing their education from NIOS are equally eligible for admission to any Institute for higher education. It is the only education board which provides students with the facility of On Demand exam for class 10 or class 12 failed students and Basic Elementary Education for the continuation of education along with class 10th, 12th and vocational education. Besides, the curriculum/syllabus of secondary or senior secondary education at NIOS is almost similar to CBSE board.
What is NIOS? Know here all about courses offered, admissions and application
Read here differences between NIOS and other education boards like CBSE, CICSE as mentioned below –
How is NIOS different from other Education Boards?
1. NIOS is an open board of education for secondary, senior secondary and voluntary education and other boards like CBSE, ICSE and state boards follow a school system.
2. NIOS offers an alternative to formal education by providing distance education programme at 10th and 12th level.
3. Students who fail in class 10 or 12 board exam can avail the facility of On Demand examination so as to pass their failed subjects in the same year of their board exams. This facility is not provided by any other board.
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4. NIOS provides Transfer of Credits facility under which students can get their marks for 2 subjects transferred from other boards including CBSE, CICSE and state boards.
5. The number of attempts to pass the NIOS board exams is nine (9) as compared to only 3 chances to pass exams in CBSE board or any other state board
6. NIOS has no upper age limit for any level of the exam; therefore students can take exam irrespective of their age. And also, it is helpful for school dropouts to continue their education and complete the course within 5 years.
7. Students can select subjects as per their choice from the list of subjects for secondary or senior secondary level irrespective of stream they choose in comparison with other boards like CBSE, CICSE providing group of subjects as per the stream
8. If the students are not able to complete their studies within 5 years of registration then, they can take re-admission for their course. The subject credits for up to 4 subjects will be transferred to their new registration (if they have passed these subjects within past 10 years)
Importance of Sample Papers for Board exams
9. Where, CBSE board, UP Board or any other board exams are held annually; NIOS board conducts exams for class 10th and class 12th bi-annually i.e. in April –May and September-October. Moreover, On Demand Examinations are held throughout the year as per the convenience of students who failed in other board.
10. NIOS board mainly offers courses in Hindi, Urdu and English medium. But, Students studying from NIOS board can choose from Hindi, English, Urdu, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil and Odia for class 10th and from Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati and Odia for class 12th as the choice of medium. Moreover, the exam paper will be in English or Hindi medium but students can write answers in the exam in any regional language registered with Constitution of India.
Conclusion: NIOS offers flexible and unique education system to students who want to complete their studies at different levels i.e. secondary, senior secondary or vocational courses. Moreover, students who want to appear in competitive exam like JEE, NEET prefer NIOS boards after class 10 so that they can prepare well to crack these exams. NIOS provides facilities like OBE, which enabled people to continue their education if they could not get an education due to any reason as it has no upper age limit.
