GRD Matriculation to try online examinations

For the students of the GRD Matriculation Higher Secondary School here, examinations are going to be a different experience altogether. Students from Classes IV to IX will now take segments of the terminal and the final examinations online. The online exercise will be of 40 minutes duration.

The system does not substitute totally the conventional method of writing answers on paper but supplements it, says D. Prabha, school Principal. It is being introduced with the objective of making students more tech-savvy, and the school hopes to orient its students towards a life dominated by information technology.

Objective-type questions in mathematics, physical sciences, biology, social sciences and English will be taken online. The descriptive questions, however, will have to be attempted on paper, Ms. Prabha says.

The online system has its advantages. As the results are displayed immediately, students can assess themselves quickly. “All students will get an opportunity for direct and constructive feedback,” says Geetha Padmanabhan, secretary of the school. The evaluation is automated and without room for any bias. The online tests can sharpen various skills. According to clinical psychologist N. Lakshmanan, this kind of examination can reduce stress and anxiety of students.