CHENNAI: In the September 21-30 final semester exam conducted by University of Madras, the 90-minute duration, more choices in question papers and evaluation by their own teachers helped students who appeared from the comforts of their homes without supervision. Of the 57,875 who appeared for the UG and PG exam, whose results were declared on Wednesday, 99% cleared. In the previous semester, around 70% passed.
Usually, 65%-75% students clear final semester exams from affiliated colleges. “Due to Covid-19, the university relaxed several norms and the test was student-friendly,” an official said.
The exams were held in a blended mode, with students having to download question papers, write in pen and paper mode and upload answer scripts within 3 hours. The exams, written with Google Meet app, were for 50 marks and converted to 100 marks.
“This year, there were more choices in questions. Evaluation by teachers from respective colleges was an added advantage. None failed in our college and many scored good marks,” said S Ramanathan, principal of Asan Memorial College of Arts and Science.
Some principals said it could be considered an open book exam as it was without supervision. “Students had three hours after the exam to upload or post it to the college. There are possibilities for malpractices like copying and writing as a group. To maintain integrity of the exam, they could have conducted a proctoring test with artificial intelligence features,” a principal of a city college said.
Loyola College, an autonomous institution, included at least three layers of monitoring for its partly online test. “In our college, 96% of students who took the test cleared it, an increase by at least 10% over the previous semester,” said principal Thomas Amirtham. There was a invigilator for every 20 students and a centralised monitoring system detected 35 cases of malpractice, he said.
Ethiraj College for Women recorded 99% pass. “Usually, it is 80%-90% pass,” said principal S Kothai.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/amid-covid-99-madras-university-students-clear-final-semester/articleshow/78693170.cms
