Test of exam patterns: online, offline, open source

Number of examinees: Around 2,500
VNIT authorities didn’t receive any official representation from the students demanding online exams, but faculty members said students are in self-doubt as they have lost the writing habit. Personal interaction and regular counselling are helping students gain confidence for the upcoming exams, officials said. Students are getting assignments, class tests and quizzes as a drill. “We didn’t call the first and second-year students as the the third wave happened the last time and they had to be sent back,” they said.

Institute: Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU)

Exam commencement: April 21 for graduating batch, May 12 for the rest
Mode: Online, open source access
Number of examinees: More than 800

MNLU vice-chancellor Vijendra Kumar said the online open source exam is part of the contingency exam policy of the university, taken during a pandemic which is still in existence. “Questions will be application-based and descriptive in nature. Undergraduate courses have six papers. Once question papers are uploaded, they will have one week’s time to submit answers in the specified format,” he said.
Kumar added that the broader vision is to have a paperless university. “The world is struggling with climate change. We don’t want trees to be cut for paper, and are essentially becoming a paperless university in all ways,” he said. As budding legal practitioners, these students need to be trained in online transactions as case filings and hearings are happening online, Kumar further said.

Institute: Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Exam commencement: Completed
Mode: Offline

Number of examinees: Approximately 450

IIM director Bhimaraya Metri said there was no reluctance from students for their final exams. “The third trimester and sixth trimester (final year) exams were held in offline mode. In fact, all our students wanted to be present at the new campus. They are the first ones to utilize the facilities. This was the first time we had offline exams in two years. No special concessions were required. Varying from course to course, two to three hours were allotted for writing,” he said.

Institute: College of Agriculture
Exam commencement: April 18
Mode: Offline
Number of examinees: 1,150

Principal Devanand Panchbai said during the lockdown, they opted for multiple-choice (MCQ) and descriptive-type open source exams in online mode. “No concession has been given for the pen and paper exam now. We have resumed academic activities like before Covid. The students have supported us,” he said.

Institute: Nagpur Veterinary College and College of Fishery Science (Under MAFSU)
Exam commencement: May
Mode: Offline
Number of examinees: 550

MAFSU officials said instructions have been given to maintain gaps between exams so that students get enough time to prepare. The university has 10 colleges under it, including these two from Nagpur. “Physical classes have also started. Some students who joined when Covid curbs were in place have doubts. We received some representation to hold exams online. But we counselled them and allayed their fears. Syllabi have been completed,” they said.

Institute: Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (KKSU)
Exam commencement: May-end
Mode: Offline
Number of examinees: 28,000

KKSU director of examinations and evaluation Umesh Shivhare said theirs being a language-based university, the MCQ pattern never suited them. “During lockdown, we held open source exams. These will be the first offline exams after the onset of pandemic. Our university’s jurisdiction is spread across Maharashtra and Goa. We never faced opposition from students or colleges. In fact, they have always insisted on offline,” he said.

Institute: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (Symbiosis International (deemed university))
Exam commencement: Completed
Mode: Online
Number of examinees: 320

Institute director Shrirang Altekar said the exams were held online and they were proctored. “The papers comprised 50% theory and 50% viva. Students had to scan the answer sheets and mail them back. We announced the exam schedule in advance. As there was no certainty regarding Covid restrictions then, we decided to hold exams online. UGC and government’s orders came later. In April, our students go for summer internship and those in final year have to join their jobs. For the next academic year, we have declared that all activities will be in physical mode from June 13,” he said.

Institute: Amravati University
Exam commencement: May 18
Mode: Offline
Number of examinees: Approximately 5 lakh

AU director of examinations and evaluation Hemant Deshmukh said the students need to attempt only 50% questions but they will be marked for the entire paper. “We are ready to hold exams like the pre-Covid days. The marking pattern has been eased considering that students have lost practice. We will convert the 50% questions attempted into 100% marks. For example, if they attempt five questions out of 10, the assessment would be based only on the attempted questions,” he said.

Deshmukh said no additional time has been allotted since they have to attempt only 50% questions. “Students had demanded online exam mode, but we are sticking to offline as classes are offline. If Std 10 and 12 had online classes but offline exams, why can’t university students do it. We have also given full carry on to next year. Even if students have backlog, we will give admission to final year,” he said.