Doubts raised over TSET test

Several candidates who took the Telangana State Eligibility Test (TSET), conducted across the state on Sunday, have alleged that the test had been administered improperly, leaving scope for large-scale malpractice. The exam assesses eligibility for appointment of lecturers.

“Paper-1, which is common for all students, had no serially marked booklets. All the students in my exam room got the same booklet marked ‘A’. The point of having different numbered booklets for general papers is to ensure that there is no copying, but since it was the same, many students were looking at each other’s OMR sheet and answering,” said Jeevan Kumar, a student of Osmania University.

Candidates also alleged that the OMR sheets had different numbers but the question papers did not, and so the marking would be skewed.

"I am confused about how the grading will be done as my OMR sheet had a different number from the question booklet that was given, which was marked 'A'. All the questions that I and my fellow classmates got were the same," says Mohammed Musavir, also from OU.

The TSET board dismissed the allegations. Professor Yadagiri Swamy, member secretary of TSET, said, "It is impossible for the students to have received the same question booklets. There were four booklets issued, with different codes. The letter 'A' was not the series code. There is a different number code issued with the question booklet. The answer keys for all the papers will be out on June 20, following which all students can verify their answer papers."

THERE WERE NO serial markings on Paper-I that was common for all. Booklets numbered differently are used to prevent cheating.

THE EXAMINING board denied allegations saying there were four papers with different codes.

STUDENTS SAID the OMR sheets had a different number from the question booklet, which was marked A.