STUDENTS FACE GLITCHES ON DAY 1 OF DU’S MOCK ONLINE EXAMS

NEW DELHI: The first day of Delhi University’s (DU) mock online open-book exams (OBE) was marred by several glitches with hundreds of final-year students complaining about difficulties they faced while logging on to the online portal, downloading question papers, uploading answer copies and complaints of the website crashing multiple times during the day. Hundreds of students took to Twitter and posted their concerns using the hashtag #DUAgainstOnlineExam.

Despite protests by students and teachers, the university administration has decided to conduct online exams for around 210,000 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, including those enrolled with the School of Open Learning (SoL) and Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB). While the final exams are scheduled from July 10, the mock online tests began on Saturday with an aim to familiarise students with the format.

The mock test was scheduled across three slots — 7.30am to 10.30am, 11.30am to 2.30pm and 3.30pm to 6.30pm. The students were given three hours — two hours to answer questions and an hour to download the question paper from an online portal, and once done, scan and upload the answer sheets. Although students were allowed to log in and take the test during any of these slots, many said they would not be able to register throughout the day.While many students said that it took 20 to 30 minutes for them to download the question paper, some had to switch to the next slot after a host of errors. Many students said they were given the wrong question papers. Dean of examinations Vinay Gupta, denied all the allegations and complaints