Objective questions are single-answer questions — multiple-choice, true-false etc.
The pen may once have been mightier than the sword, and an indispensable part of a student’s paraphernalia, but it is now struggling even for a foothold.
As many city schools adopt computer-based objective tests, institutions for higher education have also begun to use objective-type questions in their graduate and postgraduate (PG) exams. Objective questions are single-answer questions — multiple-choice, true-false etc.
Recently (2011-’12), the University of Mumbai (MU) changed its third year BCom exam pattern to make it more objective-style. While 40% of the marks in each subject will come from tests taken at college, 75% of the remaining 60 marks in each paper in the final exam will be objective and short-answer type. Apparently, close to 1 lakh students will appear in the TY BCom exam this year.
The credit system in MU’s undergraduate courses, implemented in 2011-’12 for all first-year courses, is also testing students using a similar pattern. To adjust to round-the-year exams, city colleges are all set to begin online exams from the next academic year. From 2012-’13, the credit system will come into effect in PG courses too. Pune University has also undertaken the latter.
UGC-NET - the National Eligibility Test for teaching and junior research fellowship (JRF) - has also decided to change the subjective type 3 paper to objective from June this year. AIEEE, CET, CMAT and CAT, etc. have already gone online, effectively sounding the death knell for pens and pencils in entrance exams.
The objective system would make scoring easier, thus raising the pass percentage, but educationists worry this will hamper the quality of higher education in India.
Dr Snehal Dhonde, secretary of the association of principals, says, “Box ticking cannot assess the actual skills of a student. Sometimes guesses are made, and they turn out to be correct. Basic concepts and thorough knowledge can be tested only with long answers, where every student has to pour out his/her thoughts in an innovative way. With the introduction of objective questions, the younger generation will also lose their writing skills. Moreover, the objective pattern will increase incidences of copying,” said Dr Dhonde.
Several professors also feel that multiple-choice questions will only to serve to erode the thought process, in-depth knowledge, innovation and writing power required in a good researcher and teacher. Educationist Prof Milind Wagh said, “The more objective pattern helps quicker assessment and early results, but it is not going to help students. Indian students have been making a mark globally as they have more analytical and writing skills, which will be eroded in the course of time.”
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