State board HSC exams to have MCQs a la NEET, JEE

MUMBAI: The Class 12 or Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations under the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education (MSBSHSE), which will be conducted in February 2019, will contain multiple choice questions (MCQs) on the lines of the NEET and JEE competitive entrance examinations.

This move has been taken to enhance the writing skills of the students so that they can perform better in the aforementioned examinations.

These changes will be applicable for Science stream students in their Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and Mathematics and Statistics question papers.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam is an entrance exam for students who wish to take up medical and dental courses while the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) – Main is for engineering aspirants.

Krishnakumar Patil, additional divisional chairman of the Mumbai division, MSBSHSE, told The Asian Age,

“The decision of adding inputs from NEET and JEE was specifically for the benefit of students. It would be opening lessons for their entrance exams after the HSC examinations.”

According to him, the pattern has been changed on the basis of the framework suggested by the Council of Boards of School Education.

Now, students who will be appearing for the exams in 2019 will have to attempt the MCQs compulsorily.

As per the paper pattern released by the Maharashtra state board, Physics and Chemistry, which will be a 70 marks paper, will have MCQs carrying four marks (four questions, one mark each).

Meanwhile, the Biology paper, which is a 70 marks paper, will carry eight marks (eight questions, one mark each) and the Mathematics & Statistics MCQs will carry six marks for six questions.

For all these exams, calculators will not be allowed inside the examination hall.

When asked about students not interested in NEET or JEE having to attempt the papers, Sudha Shenoy, a parent, said, “Most number of students who nowadays choose the science stream will go for competitive entrance exams after Class 12. This will only make life easier for a majority of the students when they start preparing for such tough examinations.”

Exam Facts

• Every year, close to 15 lakh candidates appear for the HSC examinations in the entire state.
• The online application for filling the examination forms and the fees are still going on. The last day for the same is November 16.
• The HSC exams for the upcoming year will be held from February 21, 2019 to March 20, 2019.