A 30-min Google test, 5 min to submit: KU to conduct both internal, end-semester exams for B.Tech students

Srinagar: Days after Kashmir University decided to promote students on the basis of internal assessments only, the authorities at varsity’s School of Engineering, Zakura campus have decided to conduct both internal as well as end-semester assessments of B.Tech students.

The assessments of odd semesters (1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th) of batches 2019, 2018, and 2017, as per the decision taken by during a meeting of head of the departments at the campus on June 2, will begin from June 15.

The dates and examination pattern, as per official documents, will also apply to students with backlog of 2016 or earlier odd batches.

The tests will be divided into internal assessment and end-semester assessment of 50 marks each.

“Internal assessment (in place of Minor I and Minor II examination) of 50 marks, shall be done through continuous assessment by four assignments or through 2 assignments and 2 online assessments (through MCQs, viva voce etc). The marks shall be awarded on the basis of the quality of the assignment submitted by the students,” reads the official document of the school of engineering, announcing the examination pattern.

Similarly, the end-semester assessment, the documents show, will have two components: a 30 marks online question paper of 30 minutes duration on open-book pattern to be attempted by students at home, and a 20 marks online viva voce, where a student will be “asked questions online by the concerned teacher preferably from, but not restricted to, the assignment submitted as part of the internal assessment.”

Explaining the modus operandi of the 30 marks end-semester assessment, the document reads: “The paper will comprise of 2 MCQs (5 minutes), 2 short answer type questions (10 minutes), and one long answer type question (15 minutes). The paper will be forwarded to students via Google Classroom or any other online mode. The students are bound to return the answer book within 5 minutes, which means the students should send the answer/response sheet via Google Classroom/online mode within 35 minutes of providing the question paper.”

As for dates, the internal assessment “shall be started immediately if not already done and should conclude before June 15.”

Similarly, the end-semester assessment “of B.Tech courses offered at Zakura campus shall be carried out from June 15 to June 20.

“Dates for conduct of examination for North campus will be notified separately,” reads the official document.

In view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, Kashmir University on May 27 decided that there will be no end semester examination and students, including those pursuing professional courses, will be promoted on the bases of internal assessments only.

Students, however, have decried the move claiming they are not prepared for the assessments as there was hardly any classwork besides many claiming they didn’t have proper internet connectivity and gadgets to write and submit the papers.

A semester I student at the campus said: “We are already under tremendous pressure due to the prevailing situation. Since August last year we have attended few classes in March after which COVID lockdown was announced.”

The student said that online classes didn’t go as expected due to reduced internet speed.

“Not every student has a broadband connection in their home. Many students among us do not even own a smartphone. They miss out on their classes and apparently will miss their examination as well,” he added.

Another B. tech student said: “We are forced to appear in the end semester assessments despite us having not studied or covered the required syllabus due to the COVID-19 lockdown.”

Syed Muzafar Andrabi, Dean School of Engineering and Technology, Kashmir University told The Kashmir Monitor that end-semester assessment will be held online and students need not to come to the campus.

“We will send papers to the students through online mode and students will have to write answers at their home and submit the answer sheets within 35 minutes,” he said.

“Students need not to worry, they should understand that we had taken this decision to secure their future. We will promote students after examining the merit achieved in this test,” Andrabi said.