Gone are the days of pen and paper tests. Now, junior colleges in the city will test their first year students by conducting seminars, viva-voce or simply giving multiple choice questionnaires.
The Maharashtra State Board of Higher and Secondary Education has recently upgraded the syllabus and testing pattern for biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics of Class XI and mathematics and science of Class X to prepare students for competitive examinations.
With the colleges set to implement the new grading system, the board has upgraded its syllabus for Class X and X1.
According to the circulars uploaded on its website, instead of 300 marks, the FYJC students will be tested for 200 marks. The colleges will have to hold two unit tests of 25 marks each every term and one final exam of 100 marks. While the colleges can ask theory based questions in the rest of the exams, they can only test the students on seminars, discussions, vivas or objective type questions in the unit tests.
“This pattern will allow students to participate in several activities and learn different perspectives about their subjects rather than just study their prescribed text books. These measures will also be effective and train students in giving competitive exams in maths and science,” said Marie Fernandes, principal of St Andrews College in Bandra.
For science-based subjects like biology, physics and chemistry, there will have one question paper of 70 marks and 30 marks for practicals. While for maths and statistics, which are common to arts and science, the written paper will be of 80 marks and there will be 20 marks for practicals.
For Class X students, there have been revisions in the marks allocated to life sciences, home sciences and health sciences. While 60 marks will be given for written exam, 20 marks will be for practical and 20 marks for maintaining journal.
“These changes are made for the new syllabus that has come in for Class X and XI this year. We will announce changes in Class XII pattern next year,” said S Dhakne, board secretary.
