Board exams are stressful for every student. For a student with ADHD, a three-hour paper in a noisy hall can feel impossible. Here is what I tell parents and school leaders.
What CBSE allows
CBSE gives exam support to students with disabilities. Its rules:
- cover the 21 disabilities listed in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and have also covered dyslexic and autistic candidates;
- can include extra time and a scribe (a person who writes for the student). The scribe can be changed, and a student may have more than one;
- allow a computer only when a registered medical practitioner has issued a certificate recommending it.
Where does ADHD fit?
ADHD is not named in CBSE's lists or in the RPwD Act's 21 categories. In practice, a student with ADHD usually needs to be assessed and certified under a related category, for example when ADHD comes with a specific learning disability. Rules change, so always check the current CBSE circular.
Steps for schools and parents
- Get a formal assessment early. A qualified professional should write a certificate that names the condition and explains how it affects exams (for example, attention over long periods, writing speed).
- Apply through the school. The head of school sends the request to the CBSE Regional Office, ideally in Class IX or XI, with the medical certificate and a recommendation.
- Register on the portal. Schools must update the student's status on CBSE's Pariksha Sangam portal within the deadline.
- Ask for specific support. Extra time, a scribe, a separate room or a computer, whatever the certificate supports.
Before the exam
Practise under the same conditions: short timed sections, breaks, the scribe or computer. Support only helps if the student is used to it.
Sources: CBSE notification on examination facilities for persons with disabilities; CBSE circulars on exemptions for differently-abled candidates (2017 onward); reporting on the Pariksha Sangam portal (2024).
This article is for education and awareness. It is not medical advice. Only a qualified doctor or psychologist can diagnose ADHD.