Are you worried about how the NIOS practical exam is conducted?
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) practical exams are the exams conducted along with the theoretical exams for specific subjects.
These subjects can be Science, Maths, Economics, Business Studies and so on. The NIOS practical exam is conducted to assess students’ performance, hands-on experience and practical knowledge .
NIOS practical exams contain viva and project-based learning , which are used to assess the knowledge retention of students. The practical exams are basically conducted before the theoretical exams; however, they may also be conducted after the theoretical exams.
The practical exams are conducted in the respective exam centre, where students will be going to appear for the examination.
Table of Contents
What is the NIOS Practical Exam?
NIOS practical exams are regular practical exams conducted by NIOS for specific subjects that contain practical and theoretical knowledge. Students who have chosen subjects that contain practical skills need to appear for the examination conducted by NIOS.
The practical exam is held to assess students’ performance and their level of knowledge. The application of the practical knowledge by students contributes to their overall holistic development. The practical exam contains experiments, viva, oral assessments, project files, etc.
To pass the practical exams of the subjects, students need to achieve a minimum of 33% combined in both the theory paper and the practical. Students have to appear for the practical exams in their respective exam centres. Here you can check the detailed overview of the NIOS practical exam.
1. Experiments and Record Sheet
As part of their coursework, students are expected to carry out a number of experiments. Students need to write their every experiment in a record sheet to observe the data collected through experiments.
This allows teachers to assess students’ understanding and observe what they have done in their experiments.
2. Viva Voce (Oral Examination)
The viva voce or oral examination is an interactive assessment in which teachers ask students about their theoretical knowledge and practical work. This component enables examiners to evaluate students’ understanding of the experiments they carried out.
Students can demonstrate their understanding and ability to articulate what they have learned through the viva voce, which is an essential skill in both academic and professional settings.
3. Practical Notebook Submission
Students are expected to keep a practical notebook throughout the course where they must document all experiments, observations, and reflections on the learning process . It further has all other related information.
At the end of the course or before the practical test, students must submit their practical notebooks for evaluation. The completeness, accuracy and presentation of the notebooks determine their overall score on the practical exam.
Key points about NIOS practical exams
While appearing for the NIOS practical exams, it is important for students to understand some key points related to their exams. Students are required to understand the assessment process, grading system, hall ticket, schedules, etc.
It is essential for students to do proper preparation for their practical exams in order to avoid exam stress and anxiety. The following are the key points about NIOS practical exams.
1. Assessment
The purpose of the NIOS practical exam assessment is to evaluate students’ practical skills and their capacity to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
This involves watching students perform experiments, evaluating their methodology and accuracy and evaluating how well they comprehend the underlying ideas.
Examiners can evaluate students’ comprehension and communication skills by asking them about their practical work in the viva voce and project work.
2. Grading System
The NIOS practical exam grading system is intended to provide students with a comprehensive and fair evaluation of their performance. Depending on the subject, each practical test typically has a different weight in the final subject score.
Students need to score a minimum of 33% in order to qualify for the examination. Students receive grades based on their performance, which may be categorised into letter grades.
3. Importance
NIOS practical exams are important to the educational process because they develop competencies that are necessary for developing critical thinking skills and success in the classroom.
Giving students the opportunity to explore the concepts in real-world situations, helps them understand and remember the material better. Practical exams also help students to develop holistic education and go for higher education.
4. Preparation
The NIOS practical exams require a multifaceted approach to preparation. First and foremost, students should thoroughly read the NIOS syllabus and the specific experiments and project work they are required to complete.
Conducting these experiments on a regular basis builds confidence and competence among students . Reviewing the theoretical concepts related to the practical work is crucial for performing better in the viva voce.
5. Hall Ticket and Schedule
The hall ticket is a required document that NIOS provides to students in order to allow them to take their practical exams. In the hall ticket details, such as the student’s name, roll number, exam date and location are included.
It is imperative that students bring their hall ticket to the exam centre. It is essential for students to check the schedule of the practical exam in advance to ensure they are prepared and arrive on time for their exams.
With key points about NIOS in mind, students with engineering dreams may think here, Does IIT accept NIOS ?
The answer is a big Yes, IIT and IIM accept NIOS.
How to Apply for the NIOS Practical Exam?
While it is easy to understand how to apply for NIOS admission online , you may require guidance to apply for the NIOS practical exam.
To appear for the NIOS practical exam, candidates need to apply on the official website. Students are required to register themselves after paying the application fees, through which they are eligible to appear for the practical exams. Here is how you can apply for the NIOS practical exams.
1. Visit the Official Website
To apply, candidates need to visit the official website of NIOS. In the website, students can find all the necessary information, such as the application process, exam schedules, and other details.
Students need to navigate to the exam section for practical exams to find its related guidelines and procedures.
2. Register with all Credentials
After visiting the official website, students need to fill out the necessary information to register for the practical exam. This includes personal information such as name, birthdate, roll number and other identifying details.
3. Fee Payment
After registering, students are required to pay the fees for the practical exam. The fees for the practical exam is 200 per subject; however, concessions will be provided to students with disabilities.
Students can pay the application fee through online mode only using credit/debit cards and net banking.
Explore how to pay NIOS exam fees .
4. Check for Practical Exam Dates and Schedules
After registering, students can check the practical exam dates and schedules on the official NIOS website. The students should carefully go over this schedule to make sure they know the dates and times of their individual exams, to avoid any last-minute confusion.
After understanding how to apply for practical exams in NIOS, do you want to know if you can give JEE after completing NIOS studies? Read more at Can NIOS student give JEE ?
Tips to Pass NIOS Practical Exam
Students can easily pass their NIOS practical exams through effective preparation and confidence. Students must understand how to study for exams effectively for achieving good marks in NIOS practical exams.
Candidates should follow some exam tips in order to prepare thoroughly for their practical exams. Here are some tips students can use to pass their NIOS practical exams.
Also Read, how to pass NIOS on-demand exam .
1. Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus is essential for effective preparation. Students are advised to review the specific topics and experiments that will be covered in the practical exam.
Students must be aware of the exam structure, including the types of experiments and the evaluation standards to focus on their studies and achieve desired results.
Read on some practical tips and techniques to get good marks in exam .
2. Practice Multiple Times
Practicing multiple times is essential for doing proper revision. To increase competence and confidence, repeat each work multiple times.
Regular practice will also help to stay more relaxed on test day, perform better on exams and reduce students . This enhances their knowledge retention as well as boosts their problem-solving skills .
3. Proper Revision
Effective revision tips is essential to improving your understanding of the theoretical concepts related to the practical work. Daily revision of notes, textbooks and any other materials to comprehend the fundamental concepts of the experiments.
Reviewing the practical notebooks and record sheets will help students to recall important details when students are questioned about their work during the viva voce.
4. Don’t be Stressed
Stress management is necessary to perform well on the practical exam. Being anxious can make it hard to concentrate and do things well. Do proper visualisation or deep breathing meditation to reduce study stress and anxiety.
Make sure you get enough sleep and maintain a positive attitude before the test. It is also necessary for parents to make a proper bedtime routine for the child . As good sleep leads to better health.
5. Stay Concentrated
It is essential to stay concentrated and focused on the exams. The performance on the practical exam will be based on the abilities of students on how they concentrate and stay focused.
It is essential for parents to observe the examiner’s instructions closely and adhere to them before moving forward.
Also Read: NIOS board benefits here.
Subjects in NIOS Practical Exams
NIOS conducts practical examinations for both secondary and senior secondary examinations. NIOS conducts practical exams for many subjects, excluding languages and other related subjects.
The practical exam contains experiments, viva voice, project works, and other related activities. It is essential for students to prepare very well for the examination and follow the official website for any information. Here are the practical subjects of NIOS for classes 10 and 12.
For Class 10 (Secondary Level)
Class 10th includes various subjects that include practical papers along with theoretical subjects. In the practical paper, students are required to complete project work, experiments, viva voice, etc.
Every subject has different practical exams. It is essential for them to understand the activities required for the subjects. Here are the subjects which contain practical papers.
| Subjects | Theory /Practical | Number of Papers |
| Mathematics | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Science and Technology | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Home Science | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Painting | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Data Entry Operations | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 |
For Class 12 (Senior Secondary Level)
Many students ask how many subjects are compulsory in NIOS 12th . Class 12th has a wide range of subjects that include practical work, along with theoretical subjects.
The NIOS eligibility criteria for Class 12th practical subjects will be conducted in the same way as the class 10th exam, which contains project work, experiments, viva voice, and so on. Here are the subjects which contain practical papers.
| Subjects | Theory/Practical | Number of Papers |
| Physics | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Chemistry | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Biology | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Geography | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Home Science | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Computer Science | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Painting | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Environmental Science | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Mass Communication | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 | |
| Data Entry Operations | Theory | 1 |
| Practical | 1 |
After understanding the practical subjects, have a quick look here at: Is the NIOS certificate valid for government jobs .
When Are NIOS Practical Exams Conducted?
NIOS practical exams are conducted in both sessions of April/May and September/October. NIOS conducts practical exams for both secondary and senior secondary after the theoretical exams or on the same day of the examination.
The NIOS practical examination will be conducted in the same exam centre with which the learner is enrolled. However, the exact dates for the NIOS exams are set by the exam authorities. The NIOS practical exam is conducted in 3 batches per session.
- The 1st batch of the exam will be conducted from 09:00 AM
- The 2nd batch of the exam will be conducted from 12:00 PM
- The 3rd batch of the exam will be conducted from 02:30 PM
Here you can download the NIOS Practical Exam Guideline
| NIOS Practical Exam Guideline | Download |
NIOS Practical Marking Scheme
NIOS practical marking schemes are distributed based on the subject for both classes 10th and 12th. For both secondary and senior secondary, the exam will be a total of 100 marks.
The NIOS subjects are divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, in which Group A contains Languages and Group B contains core subjects. Along with that exams are conducted in different types of streams in NIOS .
For both secondary and senior secondary examinations, the marking criteria for core subjects and elective subjects are mostly the same. Here you can check the detailed marking scheme for practical subjects of NIOS.
NIOS Practical Marking Scheme for Class 10th
| Subjects | Theory/Practical | Marks |
| Mathematics | Theory | 85 |
| Practical | 15 | |
Science and Technology | Theory | 85 |
| Practical | 15 | |
| Social Science | Theory | 100 |
| Economics | Theory | 100 |
| Business Studies | Theory | 100 |
| Home Science | Theory | 85 |
| Practical | 15 | |
| Psychology | Theory | 100 |
| Indian Culture and Heritage | Theory | 100 |
| Painting | Theory | 30 |
| Practical | 70 | |
| Data Entry Operations | Theory | 40 |
| Practical | 60 |
NIOS Practical Marking Scheme for Class 12th
| Subjects | Theory/Practical | Marks |
| Mathematics | Theory | 100 |
| Physics | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| Chemistry | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| Biology | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| History | Theory | 100 |
| Geography | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| Political Science | Theory | 100 |
| Economics | Theory | 100 |
| Business Studies | Theory | 100 |
| Accountancy | Theory | 100 |
| Home Science | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| Psychology | Theory | 100 |
| Computer Science | Theory | 60 |
| Practical | 40 | |
| Sociology | Theory | 100 |
| Painting | Theory | 30 |
| Practical | 70 | |
| Environmental Science | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| Mass Communication | Theory | 80 |
| Practical | 20 | |
| Data Entry Operations | Theory | 40 |
| Practical | 60 |
Read More About NIOS: How much time NIOS take to verify documents ?
Wrapping Up
The NIOS practical exams are essential for evaluating students’ practical knowledge and comprehension of theoretical ideas in a variety of subjects. These tests, which consist of project work, viva voice, and experiments, are intended to give a thorough assessment of students’ practical knowledge and skills.
Students can successfully navigate the requirements of the practical exam with the help of a well-organised assessment procedure, an understandable grading scheme and targeted study techniques.
Learners can improve their performance and pass their NIOS practical exams by comprehending the exam pattern, practising frequently, and controlling their stress.
Learn more about stress relief activities for students .
