Patna: The internal examination for classes IX and X, being conducted by the education department, commenced on Wednesday.

The exam was held on the pattern of 2018 matriculation and Intermediate exam with the question papers having both objective and subjective sections. The paper had multiple choice questions worth 50 marks. The remaining 50 marks consisted 30 marks worth of short-answer questions and 10 marks worth of long-answer questions.

The Bihar Madhyamik Sikshak Parishad helped the education department frame the questions papers. "In 2018, matriculation and Intermediate examination candidates faced difficulties with the new pattern," Bihar Madhyamik Sikshak Parisad spokesperson Abhishek Kumar said. "Looking into the students' problem, this year internal questions paper were framed on the pattern of matriculation and Intermediate 2018 papers."

Candidates who appeared for the test were provided dummy OMR sheets.

Ankita Kumari, a Class X student from the Government Girls' High School in Rajendra Nagar, said: "The question paper was in a new pattern, similar to matriculation and Intermediate examination. We came to know about the new pattern and it will help us when we write matriculation exams next year."

In this year's matriculation and Intermediate exams many students, especially in rural areas, had faced problems, like in colouring OMR sheets. The students said they will be fully comfortable with the new pattern as there would be two more exams before the matriculation exam.

Around 25 lakh candidates from Class IX and X wrote the internal exam, which will conclude on August 1. Class X students wrote the exam in the first sitting and Class IX students in the second sitting. They will be promoted on the basis of marks in all three exams.