Beating the cheating
Many students are using covert high-tech equipment to cheat and secure top marks in that all-important exam. Sridhar Vivan takes us through the new measures that authorities have introduced to check unabated cheating , and the problems these measures pose to students
Tech vs Tech
Jammers
Metal detector
RGUHS registrar (evaluation) Dr S Sachidanand said that the universities are now considering all possible ways to detect cheating. He said universities are also planning to install metal detectors at exam halls. However, it may be an expensive affair given the high number of exam centres
Surveillance cameras
Some universities like Bangalore University and RGUHS are planning to install surveillance cameras in exam halls to monitor the movement of students. However, the biggest challenge for the varsities are the logistical issues in managing the cameras during exam hall and the expenses involved
Manual frisking
Some of the universities are planning to manually frisk students. The universities want to have separate rooms for frisking students and deploying additional women staff. The only problem with this is whether students will be okay with frisking during exams
Earrings, watches banned
The Puducherry-based Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research has gone a step ahead by asking students not to wear wrist watches. Exam centres that conducted the test recently were checking students’ earrings to see if they were hiding any bluetooth device. Universities want a ban on cellphones
Many entrance/university exams have been cancelled across the country in the last 45 days following allegations of copying
AIPMT
Exam held on: May 3
Cancelled on: June 15
CBSE conducted AIPMT for 15 per cent of merit positions in the medical/dental colleges on May 3. It is believed that questions were leaked and the answers were electronically transmitted to aid high-tech copying. The SC ordered the cancellation of the exam.
Jamia Millia Islamia
Exam held on: June 13
Cancelled on: June 15
It is alleged that hours before the BTech and BDS exams, question papers were available through WhatsApp messaging. Hence, the New Delhi-based central university announced new dates for the exams — BTech on June 27 and BDS on June 25.
Aligarh Muslim Univ
Entrance Test on: April 26
Cancelled on: May 28
The Uttar Pradesh-based university conducted its entrance test for medical and dental courses on April 26. There were a number of complaints of irregularities. The matter came to the fore after it was found that many students were selected from Kozhikode due to incidents of mass copying .
Bangalore University
Exam held on: May 4
Cancelled on: May 4
The university was forced to postpone BCom exams after the vice-chancellor and other officials received question papers through WhatsApp. The issue was brought before the vice-chancellor and in his presence the three sets of question papers were opened. They found that two questions had been leaked from all three sets. Hence, they decided to postpone the exams.
School of Learning, DU
Exam held on: From May 28
Action yet to be taken
A couple of hours before the exam, final year BCom (economics) paper was allegedly leaked through WhatsApp. On June 2, the question paper on Corporate Laws was also allegedly leaked on WhatsApp for the fifth consecutive day and three people were arrested.
State students are the losers
It’s a catch-22 situation for students from Karnataka. Usually, toppers prefer to wait for the AIPMT as it gives them a chance to study in some of the country’s best colleges. With another round of the test (likely to happen in a month’s time), the students hardly have any time as the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has begun its counselling. Now, the students have no option but to select seats in state medical colleges and then appear for AIPMT. “Now, we don’t know whether we will get a seat in all-India quota or not. The only option before us is to get admitted in a state medical college. Even if we attempt the AIPMT a second time and secure a seat, the state medical colleges won’t refund the fee. So, we are the losers,” said a student.
No facility provided to students
Though the increased security features in the exam hall is aimed at curbing malpractice, many students allege that the universities were not taking the same interest in providing facilities to the students. “During a recent exam, we were asked not to carry anything other than an admission ticket and a pen. Now, the question is how a student can arrive at the exam hall without a wallet or mobile phone. On an average, a student travels at least 10 to 15 kilometres to write an exam in Bengaluru. We need to be in touch with parents and hence mobile phone is essential. Currently, the universities display a board saying no gadgets and wallets are allowed. However, there will be one more board saying the university will not be responsible for the loss of any item. Those carrying them are asked to dump them in a corner. Universities should provide cloak rooms or lockers so that we can safeguard our personal belongings. Unless the university provides facilities for students to safeguard their personal items at exam halls, efforts to curb copying will be met with limited success as students will find newer ways to carry their expensive gadgets,” said a student.
Tech vs Tech
Jammers
The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), which saw a number of high-tech copying cases, has introduced jammers this year. The university believes that jammers can effectively put an end to electronically transmitted messages during exams.
Metal detector
RGUHS registrar (evaluation) Dr S Sachidanand said that the universities are now considering all possible ways to detect cheating. He said universities are also planning to install metal detectors at exam halls. However, it may be an expensive affair given the high number of exam centres
Surveillance cameras
Some universities like Bangalore University and RGUHS are planning to install surveillance cameras in exam halls to monitor the movement of students. However, the biggest challenge for the varsities are the logistical issues in managing the cameras during exam hall and the expenses involved
Manual frisking
Some of the universities are planning to manually frisk students. The universities want to have separate rooms for frisking students and deploying additional women staff. The only problem with this is whether students will be okay with frisking during exams
Earrings, watches banned
The Puducherry-based Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research has gone a step ahead by asking students not to wear wrist watches. Exam centres that conducted the test recently were checking students’ earrings to see if they were hiding any bluetooth device. Universities want a ban on cellphones
Many entrance/university exams have been cancelled across the country in the last 45 days following allegations of copying
AIPMT
Exam held on: May 3
Cancelled on: June 15
CBSE conducted AIPMT for 15 per cent of merit positions in the medical/dental colleges on May 3. It is believed that questions were leaked and the answers were electronically transmitted to aid high-tech copying. The SC ordered the cancellation of the exam.
Jamia Millia Islamia
Exam held on: June 13
Cancelled on: June 15
It is alleged that hours before the BTech and BDS exams, question papers were available through WhatsApp messaging. Hence, the New Delhi-based central university announced new dates for the exams — BTech on June 27 and BDS on June 25.
Aligarh Muslim Univ
Entrance Test on: April 26
Cancelled on: May 28
The Uttar Pradesh-based university conducted its entrance test for medical and dental courses on April 26. There were a number of complaints of irregularities. The matter came to the fore after it was found that many students were selected from Kozhikode due to incidents of mass copying .
Bangalore University
Exam held on: May 4
Cancelled on: May 4
The university was forced to postpone BCom exams after the vice-chancellor and other officials received question papers through WhatsApp. The issue was brought before the vice-chancellor and in his presence the three sets of question papers were opened. They found that two questions had been leaked from all three sets. Hence, they decided to postpone the exams.
School of Learning, DU
Exam held on: From May 28
Action yet to be taken
A couple of hours before the exam, final year BCom (economics) paper was allegedly leaked through WhatsApp. On June 2, the question paper on Corporate Laws was also allegedly leaked on WhatsApp for the fifth consecutive day and three people were arrested.
State students are the losers
It’s a catch-22 situation for students from Karnataka. Usually, toppers prefer to wait for the AIPMT as it gives them a chance to study in some of the country’s best colleges. With another round of the test (likely to happen in a month’s time), the students hardly have any time as the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has begun its counselling. Now, the students have no option but to select seats in state medical colleges and then appear for AIPMT. “Now, we don’t know whether we will get a seat in all-India quota or not. The only option before us is to get admitted in a state medical college. Even if we attempt the AIPMT a second time and secure a seat, the state medical colleges won’t refund the fee. So, we are the losers,” said a student.
No facility provided to students
Though the increased security features in the exam hall is aimed at curbing malpractice, many students allege that the universities were not taking the same interest in providing facilities to the students. “During a recent exam, we were asked not to carry anything other than an admission ticket and a pen. Now, the question is how a student can arrive at the exam hall without a wallet or mobile phone. On an average, a student travels at least 10 to 15 kilometres to write an exam in Bengaluru. We need to be in touch with parents and hence mobile phone is essential. Currently, the universities display a board saying no gadgets and wallets are allowed. However, there will be one more board saying the university will not be responsible for the loss of any item. Those carrying them are asked to dump them in a corner. Universities should provide cloak rooms or lockers so that we can safeguard our personal belongings. Unless the university provides facilities for students to safeguard their personal items at exam halls, efforts to curb copying will be met with limited success as students will find newer ways to carry their expensive gadgets,” said a student.
