XAT - Xavier Aptitude Test - is an all India test conducted by
XLRI (formerly known as Xavier Labour Relations Institute), a business school
in Jamshedpur, as an entrance test for its management programmes as well as to
many other reputed top B-schools in the country. Around 92,000 MBA
aspirants gave the test this year on Jan 6, 2013.
XAT is a pencil-paper based test with three or four sections of
multiple-choice questions. Each question paper consists of 25-30 sheets of
paper. So, that makes it approximately 25 lakh sheets of paper printed every
year.
Hence, the question: Why hasn't XLRI shifted to the
online test mode, especially when it could save roughly thirty 60-feet tall trees annually?
I could think of only two probable reasons:
- Cost factor - I’m guessing printing must
be much cheaper than paying for some third party vendor like Prometric which conducts the online
based Common Admission Test - CAT. But, the cost can be recovered by
increasing the fees by 2-3k. I mean, when we are willing to pay around
eight lakh rupees for the two year course, it shouldn't be a
huge burden on the students if it is increased by a meagre amount.
Relatively speaking, of course.
- Fairness - Unlike CAT, wherein the test is conducted over a period of three weeks with the set of questions being changed every day, XLRI might want the exam to be completed in one go. All candidates will be tested on exactly the same set of questions, and personally, I think it is fair that way.
Now, let's assume that they really want to shift
to the online mode.
Is getting access to one lakh computers that tough? I am not sure
about this, but it MUST be. I mean, if the option is available, then why are
they not doing it?
I am not considering the factor where people say that it is done to ensure that candidates of all backgrounds are at par, so that
those who have pre-familiarity of operating computers, specially coming from
privileged background or having worked in IT sector, do not get any advantage
over others who do not have access to computers, because…
- I think it is fair to assume that
all the candidates who apply for XAT would have given CAT too. So, they
will have to practise the online mode anyway.
- Even if they have not applied for
CAT, then it is a good reason for them to start working on computers, because eventually, they have to get acquainted with computers, no matter
what. It is an e-world after all. We would just be crippling them with
this pseudo-sympathy. (One more reason, or rather the real reason
to shift to online mode. Paper based test will soon be considered to be an
outdated method for such a reputed institute, if
it isn't already.)
So…
The
problem:
How to get nearly one lakh students to give an online exam on a
single day? Needless to say, it has to be invigilated somehow. Or, there has to
be a way to eliminate all possible kinds of frauds.
Probable solutions:
- The ideal solution would be if we
could find a way such that the candidates can use their personal computers
to give the test. I've been thinking for a couple of days now to
figure out a way so that it can be made secure or foresee a scam.
Installing cameras or using web-cams is quite impractical. Is
there an alternative solution? Some software, maybe, which ensures
security? This is the time where I get terribly annoyed since I lack the
technical knowledge to even think of something
substantial.
- If the IT companies in the metro cities were willing to lend their computers for a single day, would it be enough? That was one more impractical idea which I rejected along with a few more inane ones that I have been juggling around for some time now.
Anyway, let’s remove XLRI from the equation for a moment. I have a
business proposal for you.
I’ll get hold of a couple of investors and set up my own
management institute. I’ll make myself as a brand and start marketing my
institute and gain humongous profits. I’ll even write a book to inspire you guys. Say, “Count your eggs before they break” or “Discover the oil fields in
you”. And then, I’ll offer you a million bucks to come up with
something revolutionary that could make the candidates take the entrance test
from their homes. What do you say?
Go what myself?
Hhahahahahaha.....The Arindam Chaudhary theory has brought out the best in you :P
ReplyDeleteI hope not.
DeleteThe best part, I mean.
Ok lets see the possible ways.
ReplyDelete1) Candidates taking test from their home.
92,000 candidates. Taking tests from their home. A PC, good internet connection, power back up, technical problems that could be faced and not to mention the possibility of fraud. In simple words, not a good idea.
2) Candidates taking online test from test centres.
This can be of 2 types. Test on a single day or on different days.
This simply boils down to logistics.
1 invigilator for every 25 candidates. 1 test centre for every 300 candidates. So its around, 3680 invigilators and 307 centres. With PC's in good condition, good internet connection, power back up, technical problems that could be faced. Not impossible, but very difficult. Until logistically feasible, not an option.
Thats why even CAT is not conducted this way.
If on different days, as you said, different test papers. Not so fair way to test.
That leaves us with the third option. The XAT way.
3) The problem(s) you cited with this method. Wastage of paper and the method getting outdated.
Solution - Conduct the test. Scan the answer sheet for future records. Recycle the complete load of paper used. We can reduce the consumption by atleast 70%. And may be we could ask each of the candidate who gets selected to plant a tree and look after it for the next two years.:-)
And using paper for exams in not outdated. Atleast not yet. Look at the number of tests conducted this way.
And the million bucks that you promised, they are in dollars right..?? ;-) :P
1) Out of the three points you made, the whole purpose of this post lies mostly in the first one. I was just wondering if there was a way to take the test from home (assuming the technical problems could be taken care of). We can't think of a good idea because we are considering only the options that are AVAILABLE as of now. Conduct sort of an open book test, maybe?
Delete2) I concur. That's where the 'IT companies' thought occurred to me. Since they have sufficient PC's and have cameras installed, I thought we could eliminate the need for invigilators. But then again, why would they agree to conduct the test at their work sites? No benefit. Also, it's a threat to their security.
3) We can't bring environmental aspects here simply because I didn't do enough research for this post. My bad. I didn't consider the energy consumption or radiation emitted - 1 lakh PC's switched on for 4 hours approximately. Or the pollution / energy consumed during the recycling process. There is also the hypocrisy factor, if you know what I mean.
Well, planting a tree might just become a mandatory course, eh?
Not yet outdated, probably. But, an online exam saves distribution costs and time, and is more convenient, don't you think?
And hey, think BEYOND dollars, mate!
Damn, someone read this before me!
ReplyDeleteIt's okay, Datta. I'll give you a consolation prize.
DeleteIs it safe to assume you got these ideas when you were/are preparing for the XAT? :P
ReplyDeleteAlso, 'discover the oil fields in you' - seriously? :P. Now wonder its called the Arindham Choudary effect.
Haha. Almost, AS. XAT is done. Interview tomorrow. I know where this is coming from though. I remember that post of yours. Reminds you of your marathon exams, eh?
DeleteDead serious. Oil > Diamond.
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