The first Eamcet of Telangana State is being viewed prestigious and officials are making all efforts to ensure that it is free from errors even as scamsters throw a challenge every year using modern gadgets for malpractice.
But, the Telangana Eamcet Convenor N.V. Ramana Rao promises a fair exam in a chat with R. RAVIKANTH REDDY .
How has Eamcet changed in the wake of State bifurcation?
The format remains the same as the syllabus is also the same. Students need not worry about the changes, but I can tell you that quality of the questions will be maintained to ensure that hard workers gain advantage over the mediocre.
The only change for students would be that they have to write Andhra Pradesh Eamcet as well, if they wish to seek seats in Andhra Pradesh.
Hyderabad has seen a surge in applications this year.
Any particular reason?
Applications for Hyderabad centres have increased by over 40,000.
AP students, who earlier used to choose their native towns in the unified State seem to have chosen Hyderabad as their centre for T-Eamcet.
A lot of students have also chosen towns in the border areas that have good connectivity with AP towns.
We don’t foresee any problem in conducting the test in Hyderabad.
Will you be giving some cushion in time for entering the exam hall in view of the increased applications in the city?
Entry would be denied even if they are late by one minute.
I appeal to parents and students to start at least two hours early to avoid the expected traffic jams on that as it is a working day.
About 1.10 lakh students and the parents accompanying them would be choking the roads.
I advise students to plan their travel properly so that they reach the venue an hour before the exam.
Students, particularly medical aspirants still seem to be worried about the malpractice in certain places?
We are making all efforts for a smooth and fair exam. Right from scrutinising the applications to keeping a watch on the suspected applicants we are covering every aspect of it with the help of the police.
Thumb impressions will be collected to check impersonation.
We have also asked the invigilators, chief superintendents and flying squad members to focus on suspicious students who may try to leak the paper through spy mikes, pens and scan devices. We have also banned wrist watches and clocks will be put in all the exam centres for students’ convenience. Criminal cases would be filed against the students resorting to copying.
What are the procedures to be followed by the students in the exam hall?
Candidates should ensure that correct Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet is given to them.
All OMRs are candidate-specific with the photo and signature printed on it along with booklet code.
Wrong sheets would be replaced by the invigilators if students bring it to their notice within five minutes.
Bubbles on the sheet should be filled fully or else such sheets will be treated invalid. The students can practice using the OMR sheet on the website.
Will you assure transparency after the exam as well?
We will place the OMR sheets online once results are declared so that students can download and check their sheets.
Parents tend to complain about valuation mistakes and this will help them to evaluate the performance of their wards.
They shouldn’t forget that entire valuation is done through machine avoiding human involvement.
