Aamachi Mumbai !

Question- paper leaks are very common phenomena in India and especially in Mumbai (Maharashtra) ... Almost every year, you hear a case where either 10th, 12th or other exam's paper leaked and so they conduct a retest or re-entrance exam (ask anyone from my batch - what a pain giving that re-entrance exam was !!) and what not ! Mumbai University had maintained its clean image for quite some time now ... ( it used to repeat the questions from the previous years so there was no need to leak the paper :D lol ... ) but now no more ... this one is a brand new one !! It goes beyond you have heard in the past ... curious ? Read :

http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/may/137968.htm

OK. Let me save you one mouse click :) -

<mid-day-article>

Answer paper!
By: Kiran Tare
May 25, 2006

The 100 students who appeared for their Microwave II paper yesterday are repeaters. However, the university will not hold re-exams. This picture is for representational purposes only

Final year engineering students who sat down to write their Microwave II paper could not believe their eyes.

The answers to two questions (22 marks) were printed in the paper itself, just below the questions! The 100 overjoyed students, who appeared for the paper, naturally helped themselves to the answers.

This meant they had to score just 18 marks to pass the 100-mark paper. The minimum marks required to pass is 40.

Will get marks

Microwave II is a semester VIII subject of Electronics and Telecommunications and had seven questions.

“I was surprised to find the answers in the question paper. We exchanged glances in the exam centre, but kept our mouths shut,” said a student who did not wish to be named.

A D Sawant, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University, admitted that answers were printed in the question paper.

“The question paper was printed just the way the paper setter wrote it, with the answers printed in it. Only the paper setter was privy to the question paper, so no one knew of the mistake. In any case, if students have attempted the question, they will definitely get the marks.” He added the oversight was a first in the university’s 150-year history.

Question three in the paper, with the answers circled

No re-exam

Students of Jondhale Engineering College, Dombivli, one of the four examination centres, were the first to notice the mistake. The college administration then contacted the university and notified them of the error.

“We had to score only 18 more marks as the passing marks are 40. So it was a blessing in disguise for us. But I guess the university will hold a re-exam, which I dread,” said another student.

Most of the students who appeared for the paper are repeaters; the regular students have the revised course.

Yashwant Bhonsale, a paper setter in Veermata Jeejabai Institute of Technology (VJTI), said, "Usually paper setters provide solutions with the question paper in a different envelope, which is sealed. In this case, the solution is given on the question paper itself."

Added Sawant, "This is a major mistake and the university will decide what action would be taken on the paper setter."

</mid-day-article>

How is that ? 22 marks !! That is much much better than any Thanksgiving deal anytime !!! and plus no re-exam ! I can literally hear them saying whooshhh ...yeppeee... thank god ! no re-exams !!

The report above says: 'If the student has attempted the question ...' - I say, Who would be the one who didnt opt for this question ? I really really feel sad for him/her who didnt see this question (I mean answer :) ) !! Just imagine his/her face when he/she came out of the exam and heard it from someone else !! Just too sad ...

On moral grounds, this may not be the best thing to do (thats a separate area for discussion) .. It might be best to get your 40 marks using other questions and at the end just attempt this question so that you dont miss 22 marks !! But then jaise ghar aaye lakshmi ko thukarate nahi hai vaise hi haath aaye marks ko bhi thukarate nahi hai .. :)

Anyway, what amazes me is this sentence : 'Only the paper setter was privy to the question paper, so no one knew of the mistake.' .. How is that possible ? I mean, come on .. Its a final year engineering paper .. Dont you think there should be a pool of paper setters and someone doing the proof reading and so on ? How can a mistake this big go unnoticed ? thats just sheer negligence and is not tolerable under any circumstances ... Those students will probably disagree with me but you will realize that these things are not helpful ... its better to earn those 22 marks on your own than earn them this way ! But guess what, you just got lucky !!

Considering that this was the exam for repeaters - how many of you think that this was very well-decided and paid for ? Or the paper setter felt sympathetic towards the students once in a while ? Well, time will tell ... (yes .. not Mumbai police .. dont think anyone would believe anything thats going to come out of the investigation !)

So, thats aamachi mumbai for you ! It will keep surprising you in a number of ways ... sometimes good - sometimes bad ...!