This is a press release that stared us in the face when we looked at our inbox this morning. Nothing new about paper predictions and leaks for SSC exam papers in a season complete with exam fever. However, when almost 90 per cent of the paper as it appears is supposedly online, it makes one blink at the power of the Net.
When we did log on to CompassBox, it looked like a harried student's dream come true. Sections on last minute revision for SSC and CBSE Science papers, prediction for SSC 2001, a host of objective tests to answer, Ask-an-Expert pages for those who needed an answer right away -- there was lots to entice. Also, there were solved answers for SSC question papers so that students could know how well they would score in papers they had attempted, within a matter of a few hours.
Apart from the Predictions and Preparatory Series, Compassbox Exam Helpline Services cover the CBSE and Maharashtra State syllabi and are free of cost for students, who can call and get any query solved. The Service has received over a thousand calls, emails, faxes and questions, all of which have been answered within a few minutes.
But, dig deeper and you might cease to be amazed at the claimed success rate. This is because the site seems to be based on the rule of probability. Just like question papers given out in coaching classes and notes that a teacher would offer before the exam are.
"No, it's not one paper that we offer the student. The success rate of 90 per cent is over the five sets of question papers we have prepared for each subject. Our teachers have closely analysed the last five years' question papers. They have brought out our revision notes called the Preparatory Series, and likely question papers, called the Prediction Series, over two months ago," explains V.P. Sharma, Chief Educationist of the site.
In simple terms, however, of the 50 questions online, 9 have appeared in the paper.
Says Elizabeth Menezes, a Standard Ten student from Holy Cross Convent, Thane, who had also purchased the CD of these questions from Compassbox, "Yes, almost 30 to 35 per cent of the questions were the same. But the variables or numbers in the questions were different. It helped in systematic revision because it covered all the topics. But it is not an exact match."
Likewise, agrees Jerry Joseph, who said that the question bank was helpful, one which his teachers in school had not been able to provide him with. "This site is organised, but not all questions were exactly the same. Yes, it was very helpful to study though, especially at the last minute because I solved the science question papers one day before the exam."
It simply means that any intelligent student could sit with question papers of the last ten years, and the databank of questions, to get an idea of the pattern in which questions would be likely to appear. As simple as ABC.
Defends CEO, Rajan Nair, "Anybody can analyse the last ten years' question papers and come up with a potential question paper, but not with the kind of success rate that we have. Besides, with the kind of complexity these questions have, analysing the recurrence or importance of questions and chapters or topics within the question paper is not really child's play. You need experts to do that. And no, it is not a last minute option to study. Because variables in the questions are not the same."
So, what have you really? Just like teachers mark important questions and tell you what to study, or coaching classes give you important must-solve papers before you give an exam, here is one more option now available on the Net.
Should you try it? "It could be a great way to revise and also for helping you with last minute jitters. But to rely on it completely, is, I think, a bad idea," says Mrs. Marlene Menezes, a parent.
It's your call now.
OTHER SITES
IeExamsIndia
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Question papers for SSC and HSC students of the Maharashtra board. Also evaluates your answers online.
Egurucool: Smart Study
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Study material, tests, solved papers and loads of tips for HSC and 12th standard students.
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Schools Ahead
Education portal featuring lots of study material for school students. Includes sections and tutorials on history, science, math, english, and help to crack CBSE, ICSE, SSC (Maharashtra) and other exams.
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