Plus II exam pattern set to change

BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to change the Plus II examination pattern from 2013 with more focus on objective type questions. Seventy per cent questions will be objective types requiring short answers such as yes or no, multiple choices or single word answers. Only 30 per cent questions will be subjective requiring long answers.
"The move would increase percentage scores of students from Orissa. The general perception is that they are scoring low because of our subjective questions and are at a disadvantageous position at an all India level," said Jasobanta Behera, controller of examinations, Council of Higher Secondary Education, (CHSE), Orissa.
At present, 40 per cent questions in Plus II are subjective type. The change will not be applicable to students appearing the examination nextyear. "We wanted to convey about the change to students from the time they are taking admission in Plus II. Students who took admission this year will appear the examination in 2013," Behera said. Behera said other minute details of the changed pattern such as model questions and duration of examinations would be worked out and notified soon.
The proposed change is in a series of reforms at Plus II level. In a related development, the government has decided to make the syllabus more like that of Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE). At least 80 per cent of the syllabus will be CBSE-type from next year.
Since the Union government has been planning to hold common entrance for medical and engineering entrances in future, CBSE-type syllabus will create a level-playing field for students from Orissa while competing at the all-India level, Behera said.
Behera said it is a matter of concern that number of students taking admission in Plus II and those passing the Plus II examination are not increasing the way it should. While over five lakh students appear for Class X examination, it becomes half by the time students reach Plus II. Various initiatives are aimed at increasing number of students passing Plus II, he said.
Students welcomed the government decision to change the exam pattern. "All entrance examinations are objective type. Making Plus II exam on a similar pattern would ease the burden," said Asmit Sahoo, a Plus II first year science student.