Calcutta University may have beeped an extinction alert for the essay-type question in all general papers of its undergraduate exams.

"The university is working on a plan to overhaul the examination system at the undergraduate level through several changes. Focusing more on MCQs (multiple-choice questions) in the general papers is one change that we are planning to implement in the 2017-18 session," pro vice-chancellor (academic) Swagata Sen told Metro.

Sen did not specify if that meant there would be no essay-type question in the general papers of the BA, BSc and BCom examinations, but another official said going fully MCQ was certainly an option. The second proposal is to have an 80:20 ratio of MCQs and essay-type questions.

"We will adopt one of the two proposals based on the opinions of principals and teachers," the official said.

Undergraduate students are currently not required to answer MCQs in any general paper. The examination format for the general BA, BSc and BCom courses comprises a minimum of 80 per cent essay-type questions and a maximum of 20 per cent short-answer questions.

Once the pattern changes, MCQs would comprise at least 80 per cent of a general paper in any stream - science, arts or commerce. Subjects like history, geography, political science, philosophy, economics, language and literature would also have more of MCQs.

The university does not intend to alter the question pattern of honours papers in any of the streams. Honours students are required to answer 70 to 80 per cent essay-type questions and a few that require shorter answers.

Pro vice-chancellor Sen said switching to an MCQ-based examination format for general papers had become necessary in the wake of the decision to hand over the responsibility of evaluating answer scripts to individual colleges.

This is meant to reduce the workload of the university's examinations department. Evaluation of answer scripts in the general papers is currently done by the university. The switch is likely to be implemented in 2017.

The university would continue to set the question papers, though. Colleges would be required to send the marks scored by their students to the university so that the results can be prepared.

The university intends to randomly scrutinise 10 per cent of the answer scripts to ensure that evaluation has been fair.

"MCQ-based papers would make the process of evaluating answer scripts easier for colleges. It will force students to study the whole syllabus thoroughly," Sen said.

Metro spoke to some heads of colleges about the proposals and opinion seemed to disfavour general papers going fully MCQ. "The standard of education in undergraduate colleges is bound to decline if 100 per cent or even 80 per cent of a general paper is made up of MCQs. Students tend to study less for the general papers anyway. They will ignore these subjects even more if they don't have to answer essay-type questions," said the principal of a south Calcutta college.

Another college head said: "Both the proposed changes - evaluation of answer scripts by colleges and papers with only MCQs are faulty. Students will suffer when they go for higher studies."

But pro vice-chancellor Sen argued that MCQs would not have been used in competitive exams like the National Eligibility Test for college teachers had they been a comprehensive tool for academic assessment. "The proposed method would drive students to give up their habit of skipping chapters while preparation for university exams."

He said the proposal was "still at the discussion level" and that a decision would be taken only after consulting as many teachers and college heads as possible.

Two rounds of meetings with principals have already been held, a source said. A workshop is scheduled before Durga Puja.