Mumbai colleges conduct mock tests to help undergraduates prepare for varsity exams

It will be for the first time that the university will set question papers and time table for first and second-year students

The University of Mumbai’s decision to connect semester examinations after Diwali vacations has not gone down well with many. While teachers and students are complaining about the exam schedule, many are also putting together extra classes and mock tests for first and second year students to introduce them to the university format. This is the first time the university will be setting exam papers for all undergraduate students.

The MU will conduct exams for undergraduate courses right after Diwali vacation. (HT file)

Like every semester, third year students will take their exams at their respective exam centres, whereas the first and second year students will appear for exams at their colleges, but according to the university’s schedule.

“Many of these students will be appearing for a university exam in colleges for the first time and our teachers found that there is a lot of anxiety amongst the students,” said Sobhana Vasudevan, principal, RA Podar College, Matunga. Some of her college teachers had called for mock test sessions during the Diwali vacations because once college reopens in November, all teachers will be busy with university exam supervision and correction of papers. “Teachers have called first and second year students in the coming week to understand how the exams will be held, and to answer their queries,” said Vasudevan.

Diwali vacations will end on November 8, and on the same day exams for third year students will begin. To finish mock tests before teachers get busy with supervision work, some colleges have scheduled them in the first week of November. “Some teachers have complained about cutting short their holidays but we have to do this for our students,” said Arundhati Menon, a professor.

“For third year students, since answer sheets are barcoded for online assessment, we orient and train the students. For first and second year students, we conduct workshos to introduce them to the paper pattern, which comes from the University,” said Nupur Mehrotra, vice-principal, Mithibai College, Vile Parle.