The Hindu : JNTU considering electronic distribution of exam papers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 02, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

JNTU considering electronic distribution of exam papers

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Aug.1. The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) proposes to introduce electronic distribution of examination papers with a view to eliminating leakage of question papers and also to prevent mass copying at the exam centres.

Y. Venkatarami Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, told presspersons here on Thursday that the electronic distribution of exam papers would eliminate the possibility of leakage from the paper setter. The efficacy of setting questions from one unit alone would be normally high and the expert could do his work fast. Students would not show any interest in any rumours of leakage of papers, as they would not be sure of the type of the question papers that they would have to answer.

He explained that for the purpose of paper setting each subject would have five or six units. For each unit an expert would be identified. Each expert would set 40 to 50 questions from that unit and thus a bank of 200 to 300 questions would be prepared for each subject.

From the question bank four different question papers would be randomly generated with the help of the computer system covering the entire syllabus. Four sets of question papers would be distributed as per the norms used for the EAMCET seating arrangement. Students should be present in the examination half hour before the commencement of the examination.

On the method proposed for distribution of question papers to different examination centres and the conduct of the exams, Prof. Reddy stated that the four sets of question papers would be encrypted in a compact disc. The four sets of question papers for each subject would be supplied in encrypted CD form to all the exam centres about three days in advance. The question papers in encrypted form would also be available on the JNTU examination website.

The password to reach the CDs would be supplied to the principals/chief superintendents an hour before the commencement of the exam through Internet, cell phone, telephone and fax. The principals/chief superintendents, soon after the receipt of the password have to decrypt the original question papers of that day using the software supplied by the JNTU examination branch. They would have to prepare the required number of copies of the question papers using high speed printers/xerox machines.

According to Prof. Reddy, since the seating arrangement at the exam centres would be similar to the EAMCET and four different question papers would be distributed, mass copying could be eliminated.

Also eliminated would be the printing of question papers at the security printing press and consequently the leakage from the press. The possibility of opening wrong question papers would also be eliminated. As a result, the exam schedule would not be affected. Even if there were to be a problem at any of the exam centre or centres, such centres could be isolated and separate examination could be conducted for them.

The JNTU Vice-chancellor said the hardware and connectivity requirement for each affiliated college would comprise two Pentium systems--P4 with CD readers, two laser printers--16 pages per minute, two Xerox machines of high speed, one generator, one UPS (2 KVA), one cell phone with the principal chief superintendent, Internet connectivity (leased line) of 64 kbps, Linux operating systems and a fax machine.

The hardware and connectivity requirement at the JNTU examination section would include 10 P4 systems, two servers, dedicated leased line 1 MBPS, five KVA UPS and Linux operating system.

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