Queries over combined mathematics paper

7 August 2012 06:28 am - 73 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Examinations Commissioner W.M.J. Pushpakumara said the Examinations Department had received several complaints regarding a complication in the Combined Mathematics question paper at yesterday’s GCE A/L examination. He said the Professor who set the question paper had been asked to submit a report on this matter.

“However, when considering the total marks of paper I and II, this particular question contributes to only 1.5 marks. So if the report agrees with the complaints, we have decided to award full marks to candidates who attempted that question,” Mr. Pushpakumara said.

Students and teachers claimed that the end result of part A of question 15 of the Combined Mathematics question paper did not add up to the given answer. (Lakna Paranamanna)

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Comments - 73

Senaka Wednesday, 08 August 2012 12:13 AM

Some professors in this country are not experts in their field. They become professors by publishing some papers in journals. These questions should be set by content experts. What is the role of scrunity boards ?

Manik Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:20 PM

Exam mess number (n-1) by the UPFA Govt.!!!

Don Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:33 PM

If there is an error in a question, there is no way of rectifying it. Giving full marks to all the students is a way of trying to minimise the effect but it does not do justice to the students who spent lot of time on this particular question trying to get the answer given. The responsibility for this error should also be taken by the Moderator as well as the professor who set the paper. Normally there is a panel of setters for each paper and all are responsible. They should have answered the question paper themselves before printing to see the timing and accuracy of the paper. This is how it was done in the olden days. The reason for this downhill trend could be at present political appointees are the controllers or the cream of academics have left the country. It is a very sad situation for the young generatin of the country.

True Lankan Tuesday, 07 August 2012 06:13 PM

There has been some sort of mistake in every question paper throughout the A/L history. So, why is this fuss? Just a storm in a tea cup. Controllers will do the just when they prepare marking distributions. No one has been perfect yet. Err is human.

Onw Don Tuesday, 07 August 2012 05:28 PM

That is true, now every thing in education is politized, even setting q papers . That is hat FUTA highlits these days

Kapila Tuesday, 07 August 2012 03:06 PM

messing ,messing and missing.

FLY Tuesday, 07 August 2012 03:05 PM

No definitely there would be a waste of time because students will try to get the answer by trying various ways before realising this question is dumb and crazy. because no student initialy suspect question is wrong

peeda mossa Tuesday, 07 August 2012 03:13 PM

I know of one student who redid that particular question a second time assuming that he may have made a mistake. How can the commissioner compensate that student for the time wasted, in a highly competitive exam such as this, where just one mark can make or break a student ?

Don Wednesday, 08 August 2012 01:33 AM

Giving full marks to all students for the questionable question will not do any justice to students who had spent more time than expected and hence got stressed out during the whole exam. The setting panel including the controlling chief and the moderator as well should be held responsible for this irresponsible act. All these people should have answered the full question paper to check the time they require to answer and to see the accuracy of the questions. May be the present day academics are not upto the standard to hold such positions.

rockbanda Tuesday, 07 August 2012 01:10 PM

May be you got it right.

jayasri Tuesday, 07 August 2012 12:44 PM

I was thinking all these days we are above 95% literate. But all these top level guys have now disproved it. Are we fooling our self?

Notharismama Tuesday, 07 August 2012 12:39 PM

What ever this regime does not add up!

senavi Tuesday, 07 August 2012 12:37 PM

it is very counter productive that they are progressively lowering the difficulty level of A level since 1980

Jeanna Tuesday, 07 August 2012 12:20 PM

Exams used to be all about answering the paper. Since we are the miracle of Asia, I guess its up to us to reverse the trend and make the candidates question the paper instead!

prasanna Tuesday, 07 August 2012 11:41 AM

this is not a issue to make big fuss. These type of things happen from very old days and full marks are awarded.
Unfortunately, those who did not sit for A/Ls are making big fuss. what to do?

CHANDRAPALA Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:54 AM

This government seems to have neglected the teachers and academic staff of the universities whose service is very essential today to uplift the education in the country. Can political henchmen prepare the question papers for A/L? We never herd such a things during the period of Bogoda Premaratne, a distinguished public servant whose service to Department of Examination is unforgettable.

Right speaker Wednesday, 08 August 2012 04:24 AM

Everywhere of the gov. institutes same story of inefficiencies and corruptions

Malik Wednesday, 08 August 2012 10:28 AM

I think you should change your name to Micky Mouse.There is no way a man in proper senses could cover up the inefficiency of this Govt.

Imran Hussein Wednesday, 08 August 2012 06:49 AM

Ask anyone at the Law college.

indi Wednesday, 08 August 2012 05:43 AM

Can you explain how politics and question paper case come together ?

reader Wednesday, 08 August 2012 05:41 AM

menna thawath aga ganimak

CITIZEN Wednesday, 08 August 2012 05:40 AM

When there is a combination of jokers at the top the it results in a "combined mathematical error"!!!!

Sarath Wednesday, 08 August 2012 05:22 AM

Need major changes both in education and exam systems. Our children already suffer as these systems inefficient and politicized. It's time to go for exams like Cambridge IGCSE or GCSE. We don't need the exam department or some of these irresponsible ed ministers. Government should spend that money for our children to get international qualifications. Many countries including Maldives are doing that.

asoka abeywardena Wednesday, 08 August 2012 05:36 AM

nicky karunarathna please don't talk like a dumb ass...this is nothing but irresponsible officials are in the wrong places...very sad about the younger generation...the government is asking for trouble and will face the consequences very soon if these wrong doings continued...

asoka abeywardena Wednesday, 08 August 2012 05:05 AM

why can't the professor say, i don't remember anything...?

siripala Wednesday, 08 August 2012 04:12 AM

But the problem is Toosh, If we give AL teachers the chance to prepare the exam papers, then they will use that advantage to pass the questions to their tuition students..

Harshani Wednesday, 08 August 2012 04:26 AM

What is wrong with the UGC. Who set these questions,? Prof Nalin also too old now! No body knows what exactly has gone wrong. ??

John Wednesday, 08 August 2012 03:30 AM

What are their academic qualifications to be able to lead the education system in Sri Lanka??

nicky karunarathna Wednesday, 08 August 2012 03:22 AM

The university dons who are setting the paper, who have connections with JVP, UNPand TNA are doing these things purposely to bring down the government? Again, when supplier of petrolium products are vouching that their products are perfect, it is that sabatuers are working overtime to discredit the present government which is doing a yeoman service to bring the country back from ashes after 30 years of LTTE ruthless war. Remember govt won the war with all the odds nationally and internationally.

janak Wednesday, 08 August 2012 03:10 AM

2 donkeys spoiling the education

bash Wednesday, 08 August 2012 03:18 AM

Mervin Silva also has got a doctorate..... wonder if this professor also got in similar manner

DEfcOn Wednesday, 08 August 2012 02:39 AM

Clearly you must have found the AL papers quite tough ehh... Not like the term papers at school??? Btw I didn't know oxford and Cambridge papers were so easy... Sigh... talk about things you know men.. typical Sri Lankan

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:29 AM

I hope the public now finds that what is left in Sri Lanka including the leaders we elect and the new found doctorate fellows are purely buffaloes. All the good ones have left.

Prof. Vanderkoon Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:06 AM

In UK, and other developed countries professors work long hours and renew their knowledge continuosly. So the Education departments do ask Professors to set exam papers but in our country, professors are not researchers, work short hours. They shouldn't be setting exam papers, as Toosh said, good teachers must be asked to do this.

Gayal Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:41 AM

Looking backwards i feel happy with my AL results, who knows these ppl would be so selfish and revengeful to make silly mistake at the most important final exam for school leavers. These kind of questions papers should be answered by a panel before sending for printing.

kumar Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:38 AM

mata mathka na

Piyasena Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:27 AM

Damn shame, the Math Prof in Sri Lanka cannot do very simple arthmetic calculations...

commisioner Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:36 AM

The professor who set the question should be taught grade 2 maths.

Just Another Citizen Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:27 AM

No wonder international schools attract students.

ajith fernando Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:42 AM

Full mark should be given to not only for those who attempted to answer but also to those who did not answer that question at all. Because student may have omitted that question due to the complication.

Saman Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:38 AM

The normal practice of the department of education is to get a University Professor to prepare the A/L examination papers. Even in England, the exam papers of what we commonly refer to as "London A/Ls" are prepared by a team of university professors and not by teacher who conduct A?L classes!

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:09 AM

Reviewing means working with dedication, something non-existant from the President down to the muncipal dengue drain cleaner. If we were to review what both ministers of education has so far achieved that is useful for education in this country, then better to award a gold medal to the buffaloa plowing the paddy field.

sxhabeeb Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:34 AM

Dont they feel shame... Banana Adminstration

janak Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:34 AM

THESE 2 GOATS S.B N BANDULA RUINED THE EDUCATION

Bawa Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:16 AM

EXAMINATION DEPARTMENT MUST HAVE A GROUP OF TEACHERS FOR SETTING EXAMINATION PAPER RATHER THAN DEPENDS ON PRFESSORS- THEY WILL TRY TO SHOW THIER TALENT IN THE QUESTIONS FINALLY THIS KIND OF MISTAKES AND TOUGH QUESTIONS WILL BE THERE ALWAYS- EXAMINATION DEPARTMENT MUST EASE THE QUESTIONS AS CAMBRIDGE AND OXFORD DOING IN EXAMINATION- THIS ACTION WILL GIVE LOT OF CHANCES TO TALENTED STUDENTS TO FIND SOME FORIGN UNIVERSITIES TOO.

john Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:31 AM

professor will say he cant remember

Dave Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:15 AM

One would think these questions/answers would be reviewed before they get printed. Wouldn't they???

Toosh Tuesday, 07 August 2012 06:48 AM

What is the role of university professor in preparation of School level examination papers. Is he teaching to the GCE A/L students or published any books for such students?. It should be in the hands of experience teachers who are teaching GCE A/L students in the country not to the university teachers....

mike Tuesday, 07 August 2012 07:03 AM

Messing and Messsing and Messing the whole education in this country... No standards at all.....

sltk2004 Tuesday, 07 August 2012 06:49 AM

The professor will say that he is on strike - so we cane go on and on like this ....

Shakya basra Tuesday, 07 August 2012 09:08 AM

I'm sure that the professor is a relative of the education minister.Normally the minister messes up every thing!

One guy in SL Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:36 AM

Whats happening to the education in this country? For gods sake please , I beg from all these intellects do your job properly without letting the future of Sri Lanka dampen further.......you will be severely punished during the day of judgement remember that since you have ruined the future of many..............

eng Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:27 AM

This type o mistakes are happening from good old days. department has been practicing " giving full mark" to student who attempt the trouble.

No need to politicize this issue. There were instances where we had 06 questions in the papers instead of 12.

But this ERROR could have avoided.

Premathilake Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:35 AM

The mistake was in the old syllabus or new syllabus exam paper?

Malkantha Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:23 AM

true but they will get marks for the steps - if you have done A/L combined maths you know that you get more marks for the steps in obtaining the answer than the final answer itself.

Vipula Wijayaratne Tuesday, 07 August 2012 10:01 AM

Little incidents being blown out of proportion: President

shiham Tuesday, 07 August 2012 09:22 AM

F......

hard Tuesday, 07 August 2012 09:26 AM

ALL IN ONE SWISS ROLL??? FLY A KITE"""""" THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT NOT THE PARENTS,TEACHERS OR STUDENTS NEEDS.

miri Tuesday, 07 August 2012 09:29 AM

the prof will easily escape saying that he doesn't remember.

Criclover Tuesday, 07 August 2012 06:45 AM

again and again mistakes... but no any action....

rasika Tuesday, 07 August 2012 09:20 AM

some is does not add up... so what ...

Izmie Tuesday, 07 August 2012 09:20 AM

Who appointed these Idiots?

Jeevan Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:52 AM

On those good days, we were questioned by the papers. Today, we are questionind the paper!

malkanthi Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:33 AM

Also what about the time factor they have wasted in attempting this sum?

Lakmal Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:10 AM

Miracle of Asia. Shame on you .

Vernon Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:07 AM

That is not fair. A student will realize the complication only after attempting it. Marks should never be given to those who never attempted it.

ind Tuesday, 07 August 2012 08:11 AM

A personnel mistakes too will be added to the government account.

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Queries over combined mathematics paper

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