Several schools in the city have decided to hold mock tests for board examinees this week before they take the first semester exam.
Both CBSE and ICSE councils will conduct offline board exams for semester 1 in MCQ (multiple-choice question) pattern for classes X and XII this month.
The students for the past 19 months have only appeared for online exams and teachers feel they have fallen out of practice of writing a test in a formal school setting.
The schools will conduct the mock exam for a common paper to orient all the students of the exam process. This exercise will also give them confidence.
South City International School will conduct a mock exam for students of Classes X and XII.
Indus Valley World School and Delhi Public School Ruby Park, both CBSE schools, will conduct only for Class X because of lack of time for the students of Class XII.
Schools in Bengal are set to reopen on November 16 for Classes IX to XII.
Both South City International School and Indus Valley World School have decided to grade the paper but the marks would not be reflected in any report card of the student.
“They have not appeared for an exam physically on a desk and have got used to sitting in a comfortable position over a laptop or any device. We will conduct the practice test in the same examination hall. It will give the students a psychological satisfaction of knowing the process,” said John Bagul, the principal of South City International School.
An additional challenge for the students would be to appear for the exam with the mask on.
For CBSE schools it would also be a practice run of the OMR sheet.
“Some parents had requested us because they wanted their children to get acclimatised as many of them had not stepped out often during this period. It will be a rehearsal exam for those who want to take it but we have not made it compulsory,” said Amita Prasad, the director of Indus Valley World School.
At Delhi Public School Ruby Park, students will appear for tests on five subjects spread over three days and on OMR sheets. “The exams will be of 90 minute duration. The students will be explained about the OMR sheet and how to fill it,” said Indrani Chattopadhyay, the vice-principal of the school.
