Andhra Pradesh   

JNTU exams go hi-tech

Ravikanth Reddy

Online testing and instant evaluation are all set to change the examination scenario. Tests, results and even evaluation of mistakes are now just a click away

An examination that gives results immediately and also evaluates the mistakes committed is going to be a reality with the introduction of online examination system by the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), the first one to do so in the country.

Engineering students of 240-odd colleges affiliated to the JNTU now don't have to go through the age-old tradition of writing the examinations.

They will simply click the mouse and after the scheduled time the result will be flashed on the screen along with the mistakes committed and also solutions for the wrongly answered questions. "Online system is being introduced for internal assessment of marks as of now and its extension to other exams depends on the feedback," says JNTU Vice Chancellor K. Rajagopal.

Question bank

The university has created a question bank for each subject designed by subject experts. The student just needs to get onto the system at the college and key in the hall-ticket number. The computer randomly picks 20 questions with four choices of answers for each question.

After the specified time the question page automatically vanishes and then within minutes the score sheet appears along with the correct answers.

The designed software ensures that no two students get the same question paper. "The score is also recorded immediately at the central server thus negating any chances of mischief," says K. Vijaykumar Reddy, Controller of Examinations.

The system that comes into effect from this year has inherent advantages to plug leakage of question papers, bias and effective monitoring of the conduct of internal examinations by its large pool of affiliated engineering colleges. "Colleges that give marks without conducting the test cannot tamper with the system now," says Dr. Reddy.

It will also be ensured that standard of questions is same for all students. However, to ensure that students are exposed to conventional mode of testing, half the examinations will be conducted in the old manner. The average of best four of six papers would be given to the students.

Double valuation

Yet another change is the double valuation of answer scripts from this year. A new scheme of valuation has been prepared to be followed strictly by the two valuators looking into each script.

The Chief Examiner will award the better of two valuations or he will decide the marks of the difference between the two valuations is more than 12 marks.

The method has been used for the first semester examinations of final year students this year and there is a marked improvement in the marks. "Perhaps, the valuators are more careful as there is a penal action for neglect," points out Dr. Rajgopal.

To reduce burden on the valuators, no examiner will be issued more than 40 answer scripts per day.

"Burdening them with more scripts and expecting proper valuation is not fair," says the Vice-Chancellor.

An official said 13 lakh scripts were valued for the entire series of examinations held in November and December.

But due to double valuation the effective number has risen to 27 lakhs. Nearly 11,250 examiners were roped in for valuation.

Dr. Rajagopal feels the new system will effectively cut down requests for recounting. The university will consider revaluation requests but with a heavy fee, which is yet to be decided.

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