Monday 29 September 2014
We recently started our terminal examination in school and as always, we started with the practicals. I'll discuss the oral examinations later because...that's something else entirely. But, we had science practicals and computer practicals recently.
Well, our science is divided into 2 parts:
- Science A: Physics + Chemistry and one lesson on EVS (Environmental Science)
- Science B: Chemistry + Biology and one lesson on EVS
So, for the practicals, we had 5 experiments from Science A and 5 from Science B and we had to do one of each. Of course, it wasn't up to us to choose an experiment, we had to pick chits.
For practicals, we have to perform the experiment, and write it down on paper. We have to write the aim, apparatus/chemicals required, observations, diagram (if any) and conclusion.
Some experiments were really easy, only difficult part was the observation. But, there were 3 physics experiments based on electric circuits.
- Verifying Ohm's law.
- Calculating equivalent resistance of resistors connected in series
- Calculating equivalent resistance of resistors connected in parallel
And we were told beforehand that the apparatus for these 3 might not function properly and so, we should just learn (that is, memorize) the observations and write it down and just connect the circuit in the practicals.
Now, being the unlucky idiot that I am, I got the most difficult one, calculating equivalent resistance of resistors connected in parallel.
And, again, my apparatus wasn't working. So, there I was, at a practical exam, yet doing no practical work whatsoever. And it's gonna be the same for our board examination practicals.
One of the most important exams an Indian student has to go through and proper apparatus can't be provided.
It's not as if 1/10 sets of apparatus weren't working either. At once, 24 students were allowed in the laboratory to do the practicals and out of these 24, only 1 person got the circuit experiments. So, only 1 apparatus of each, and even that wasn't working.
Might as well just include that in the theoretical exam.
