A day before the SSLC examinations, G. Renuka, a class X student of M.C.J. Girls Higher Secondary School, is confident of performing well.
“We have been writing examinations that cover the entire portions from December onwards. That has helped us a lot,” she said.
Renuka is among the 56,556 students from 588 schools who will be writing the examinations in 207 exam centres in Chennai. The examination begins with the language I paper on Wednesday.
Both schools and students note that they had ample time to revise, compared to class XII students. Esther Jogi, senior vice principal, GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, said they had conducted six revision tests.
Last year, 89 per cent of the students who took the examination through schools passed the examination in the State. As many as 29,905 scored a centum in mathematics, 38,154 in science, and 19,680 in social science.
However, school heads said they were preparing their students to face papers of varying difficulty levels this year. “I am studying more from textbooks than the guides, so that I can answer any question,” Renuka said.
At Chennai Higher Secondary School, West Mambalam, ‘high-scoring’ students not only attended the special classes conducted for them by the Corporation at the designated centres, but also came back and shared tips with others, said Hemalatha Ramkumar, headmistress of the school.
“The Chennai Corporation had given additional study aids to help students. We have given importance to all subjects. Last year our school secured a 93 per cent pass percentage. This year we’re aiming for a 100 per cent pass percentage,” she said.
A counsellor appointed by the Corporation also visited the school and spoke to the students about stress and time-management, relaxation and diet during exams, she said.
