Several class X SSLC students raised concerns about inadequate time allotted to answer core exam subject papers and lack of clarity over the revised objective type exam pattern in a video interaction with the minister for primary and secondary education, S Suresh Kumar on Friday.

Organised in DIET centres in various districts across the state, students were given an opportunity to virtually interact with the minister ahead of the class X state board exams to be held on July 19 and 21. During the session, however, in most of the centres, little social distancing was followed and students were instructed to take off masks while interacting with the minister. In some cases, even officials of the department were seen interacting with students with masks on their chin. The interaction was streamed live on social media.

A student from a school in Prakashnagar, Bengaluru expressed his concern about how exams could be challenging this year as the time given to answer questions is insufficient. Assuring him, Kumar said that questions would not be application based and would be straight to the point and simple.

KSEEB director, S Sumangala also assured students that questions would be designed to ensure that students answer then in a maximum of 90 seconds per question

Sinchana, a student from Hassan Taluk requested that the exams be held on three days instead of two as students would need sufficient time to prepare for the mathematics paper and having it on another day would help. As per the KSEEB announced timetable, the exam will take place on two days – one day for core subjects such as maths, social science and science and the other for language papers.

This time, students will write 120-mark multiple-choice-question papers. The exam will be held between 10.20 am and 1.30 pm on July 19 and July 22. Students expressed anxiety over answering objective multiple-choice questions instead of the usual subjective type.

Several students expressed concerns over being unfamiliar with writing objective type answers.
Chetan Gowda, a student from Kyathsandra near Tumakuru opined that a subjective type question paper would have better than introducing objective-type questions for this year’s SSLC exam paper.  

Sudanva Avdhani, a student from Kalaburagi complained, “This is the first time we are being given OMR sheets. We are not sure on how to mark on them.”

Some students also expressed that not having written a preparatory exam would make it difficult for them to cope with the changed exam pattern.

Also read: Karnataka: SSLC exams on July 19 and 22, II PU results in July 2nd week