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Maharashtra Schools Launch New Periodic Assessment Test
3 Oct
Summary
- Students from Std II to VIII will take a new test.
- The assessment checks learning outcomes in the first term.
- Teachers will use results for remedial teaching plans.
Beginning in the final week of November 2026, students from Std II to VIII in Maharashtra government schools will participate in the state's annual Periodic Assessment Test (PAT). This assessment is designed to gauge learning outcomes from the first-term syllabus.
Conducted across 10 mediums, the PAT will focus on first language, mathematics, and English. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has issued detailed instructions, emphasizing that the PAT is a tool to enhance classroom learning, not a high-stakes board examination. Results will guide teachers in identifying learning gaps and implementing targeted remedial actions.
The PAT will include written and oral components, with varying mark distributions and durations based on grade level. For instance, Std II will have a 30-mark test, while Std VII and VIII will face a 60-mark assessment. SCERT stresses that students should not experience undue pressure and that preparation should focus on conceptual understanding.
Teachers are required to record PAT results against learning outcomes and input data into the Vidya Sameeksha Kendra (VSK) system. They must then develop and implement individual student action plans to improve learning by the second PAT, scheduled for April 2027. To alleviate concerns, the circular assures that PAT marks will not lead to disciplinary action against students or teachers.
SCERT will centrally supply question papers between October 25 and November 5, 2026. The department will also monitor the PAT period with school visits and random rechecking of answer sheets. Provisions are in place for absent students and students with disabilities to ensure fair assessment.
