Noida: Over 150 CBSE-affiliated schools from the city are expected to participate in the Structured Assessment for Analyzing Learning (SAFAL) test, meant to assess students’ competency levels, this year. The digital-mode assessment for the 2025–26 academic session will begin on Nov 10, marking the first large-scale rollout since its pilot phase ended last year.
Launched in July 2021, SAFAL was introduced as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendations to promote competency-based learning. The exam will be conducted for students of classes 6 and 9, aiming to evaluate their understanding and application of key concepts rather than rote memorisation.
According to officials, SAFAL is not a competition or a qualifying exam, but a diagnostic assessment tool to help schools identify learning gaps and improve the quality of teaching. “The purpose is to gauge where students stand in terms of learning outcomes and where schools need to focus more,” said Neha Sharma, CBSE city coordinator, Noida.
This year’s assessment will be held primarily in digital mode, though some schools may opt for a pen-and-paper format, for which the schedule will be announced later.
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