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ICSE Students to Enter Exam Halls Earlier

By Sumit Kumar, Section Education
Posted on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 02:36:17 AM EST

The board exam should turn into a more pleasurable experience for kids than it is now, feel teachers of city schools affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, that organises ICSE and ISC exams.

All schools will ask the 2007 ICSE and ISC examinees to take their seats 15 minutes before the question papers are given out.

Two years ago, the council had pioneered a concept whereby it was decided that after question papers are distributed, examinees would spend 15 minutes reading the paper so that they do not jump to writing down answers without having read the paper properly.

The council felt that the students make too many mistakes since they do not read the question paper well.

City schools have now gone a step further and decided to further destress the exam by making kids sit in the hall much before the papers are distributed, just to acclimatise them with the questions.

"We have decided to start the practice this time so that the kids are completely relaxed when the exam begins. The 15 minutes that we get before the question papers are given out can be utilised for a small prayer or a deep breathing session. We could also tell the students to close their eyes and leave their minds blank. These are mind tricks that will leave them refreshed," said T H Ireland, principal of St James' School and co-ordinator for ICSE/ISC 2007 in Kolkata.

He has informally told principals of all city schools about this and has received a favourable response, too. A meeting has been convened for all the co-ordinators (one from each school) in early January where this will be discussed and finalised. Though this is not a formal decision of the council, most school heads feel this is a step in the right direction.

"During the first 15 minutes that kids spend in the exam hall, they might even be allowed to talk to their friends. Of course, they will not be allowed to move out of their places or make noises. Since question papers are not given out then, there's no harm in allowing them to chat which is a great stress buster," Ireland said.

Council officials in Delhi appreciated the idea though they said there are no immediate plans to formalise it.

"But it is indeed a good idea to help soothe frayed nerves before distributing question papers. This will be of great help especially
for those sitting for ICSE because it is the first board exam of their lives," said G R Arathoon, officiating chief executive of the council from Delhi.

Principal of La Martiniere for Boys, Sunirmal Chakraborty agreed. "Competition is increasing with every passing day and kids approach exams as if they are going to a battle. Naturally, they come to the exam hall extremely taut and just giving them 15 minutes to read the question paper before getting down to writing may not be enough. This extra 15 minutes before the exam starts will do them a world of good".

(Source-Times Of India,07/12/06)

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