March 21, 2013, 12:00 am
Class 12 students from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said they saw stars when they began writing their mathematics paper in Bangalore on Wednesday, describing it as tough and that several questions were out of syllabus.
Meritorious students who were expecting 80 per cent to 90 per cent marks in maths prior to the exam, are now worried that they may not get more than 50 per cent, while average students fear that they may fail in the subject This year, Class XII marks are important with 40 per cent weightage being given in JEE (Main) for admission to NITs, IIITs and other central-funded technical institutions. Moreover, these marks also determine their prospects of appearing for JEE (Advanced) for admission to IITs.
A group of parents of students from the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Hebbal, have written a letter to the Regional Officer, CBSE Chennai Region, urging appropriate remedial action.
The letter, a copy of which is with The Hindu, states that the paper deviated from the standard pattern of the previous years. �Most of the questions given were not regular problems and twisted and were beyond the capacity of an average child,� the letter stated.
Teachers were also surprised to see question paper. �I have never seen such a question paper. Students with extraordinary skills only can secure above 80 per cent marks,� said P. Madhuri Rao, a CBSE maths teacher.
