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Tick-tock went the clock inside an exam centre!

Students talk about board exams, the final challenge in their schooling journey

Last minute revision just before the board exams at the Indian High School on Monday. -KT photo by Rahul Gajjar

Huddled in groups, a growing anxiety and excitement summed up the mood outside exam centres in Dubai on Monday. An eerie silence surrounded the alleys of The Indian High School (IHS) as the school turned into an exam centre for the Grade 12 board examination.

Students dashed across school passages to find their exam rooms and settle in time for the three-hour exam. The constant chatter of students and teachers was occasionally broken by a public address system giving students directions.

“It is a little uncomfortable to write the exam in a different school, where you don’t even know any of the teachers,” said Nazil Anwar from Gems Our Own Indian School who was taking the exam at IHS.

Standing outside the exam centre, he explained, “It is really stressful when everyone starts calling to wish you all the best for your board exams. These people don’t even call me for my birthday.”

For thousands of students in the UAE, the exams present the final challenge in their schooling journey. Months of practice and model exams prepare students for the board exams, which set the stage for entry to university life.

“I just want to get over with the board exams. I woke up at 5am and did a little revision. Relatives calling from India and talking to you about their expectations takes the stress to a different level. People tell you stuff like ‘you can score 90 per cent’ and ‘we know you can do it’ doesn’t make the exam easy for us,” said Raunak Vivek Satpute, of Gems Our Own Indian School, Dubai.

A seating plan on the school’s first floor informed students of the exam centre layout. At 8.30am, the school once again returned to complete silence as exam invigilators started coordinating their work for the day.

“We had a month to prepare before the board exams. At that time you are relaxed because you have more time to study. The night before the exam, most students stay up till midnight. My worst fear is forgetting what I have learned when I sit for the exam. There are a lot of small details which they ask,” explained Sanjana Nayak, a student from IHS.

Another student Rhea Das echoed similar views. “It is a good idea to sleep a little early before the day of your exam.”

The first paper on March 2 was English, which is a compulsory subject for all the students appearing for CBSE Board examination.

Izaan Khan, a student at IHS said: “English exams are all the more stressful because you can’t really have a wrong answer. Sometimes you blank out when you see the paper.”

Results for Class 10 & 12 are likely to be declared in the month of May.

What the students say

The first exam always brings out the anxiety in any student. Once the exam begins, there is a big timer on a projection screen and the teachers keep announcing the time left. Once the clock runs out, everyone has to stop writing.”

Aisha Saderuddin

“We shouldn’t hold on to stress because it is detrimental to performing well. CBSE focuses too much on objectivity. It doesn’t allow any scope to interpret a question with slightly creative answers. There is one prescribed way of answering questions and usually we end up memorising that answer.”

Izaan Khan

“There is a marking scheme for every CBSE exam and that’s why you can’t write your own interpretation. We’ve been asked questions like, “What’s the meaning of life?” for one mark. It is the most philosophical question and there is no set answer really.”

Soorya Srinivasan

“The exams are always objective and evaluators only look for value-points in your answer sheet. I’ve tried to be creative in previous exams but being creative is not worth the risk during board exams. It’s better to write the answers they want. We are going to a different campus which adds extra pressure.”

Ahraz Asad

muaz@khaleejtimes.com

Beating exam blues!

Taking a board exam is the final step in a student’s school journey. Schools across the UAE prepare students with supplementary reading and exam tips. Muaz Shabandri speaks with with Michael Guzder, Executive Principal of The Millennium School, Dubai to know more about the role played by schools in reducing stress. Excerpts from the interview:

How are schools helping students combat pre exam stress, especially before entering exam centre?

The Millennium School has always stood by its students writing their board exams, supporting them at every step of the way. Some of the steps taken were:

• Students had an assembly with the principal and senior management team about a week before the examination. Important instructions were re-iterated.

• They were told to continue with their preparation without over exerting themselves.

• They were given a pep talk to boost them.

• A detailed circular was sent out to the parents and students giving them all instructions regarding the examination so that the stress levels could be brought down. Useful tips were also outlined where students were asked to eat healthy and sleep well. They were also given tips on what to do on the day of the exam.

• The senior management team was present at the exam venue on the first day of the exam and the principal spoke to all the students before they went in to take their exam.

Are students made aware of seating arrangements beforehand?

Students are made aware of the seating arrangements and their examination centre well in advance. A circular was sent out to the parents giving all the relevant details regarding the examination centre, location, contact details, etc. Arrangements were made to take students to and back from the examination centre on the days of the examination from school. All students reached the examination centre at least half an hour before and checked the seating arrangement, which was displayed on the board outside the centre. Students went inside the hall 45 minutes before the exam started on the first day to get familiarised with the seating arrangements and listen to the instruction from the Superintendent Invigilator.

How do teachers play an effective role in helping reduce the stress level?

At The Millennium School, teachers have always worked closely with students not just building their career, but also equipping them with life skills and this stood them in good stead while facing the board examinations. All year round teachers equip students with strategies which help them effectively plan their time in the run-up to the board exams. Teachers remain in touch with the students during their preparation period, answering any questions they had. They send messages to the students a day before the exam reminding them about the time they should be at the centre.

Also, class teachers and subject teachers went to the centre 45 minutes before the exam to meet the students and answer any last minute questions. Subject teachers will always be present at the centre half an hour before the exam starts to meet the students and answer any last minute questions for both Grade 12 and Grade 10 examinations.

The school works in partnership with students and parents to ensure that students are not unnecessarily stressed out. All queries by both parents and students are immediately dealt with.

Preparation for the board exams is an ongoing process which culminates in the writing of the examination. Students are given mock papers to discuss and pre-boards are taken with the same seriousness as boards to familiarise students with the process. All these steps make it easier for the students to write their exams. — muaz@khaleejtimes.com