Cheating in Exams : is only a Symptom

 

 

During past few weeks , we heard many news of students cheating in exams

Leaked papers got sold for lakhs of rupees, just hours before the start of exams

Helpers climbed walls of Exam buildings , picked up Question Papers from students taking exam , passed on to EXPERTS sitting outside and writing down answers , which those helpers threw inside the exam hall , from windows

Have no doubt that much more sophisticated methods got employed

This kind of cheating has been happening for decades and all over the country

If cheating is the Symptom , disease is UN-EMPLOYMENT

Recently , in UP , against 67,000 vacancies for police , some 50 lakh ( 5 million ) students appeared in the exam

For most of the Govt jobs ( Central or State ) , it is common for 80 – 100 applicants for each vacancy !

With odds stacked like this , youth resort to cheating

But today , I am not going to go over my 60 + past emails to our Cabinet Ministers saying :

“  Neither the Private Sector , nor the Public Sector ( including governments ) , can create 15 Million ( 1.5 crore ) , salaried jobs EVERY YEAR. Only answer is to enable Self Employment “

Today , I suggest following solution to “ treat “ the symptom of cheating :

Ø  An independent Central Authority called CECB – Central Exam Conduct Board – for ALL govt jobs ( State + Central ) 

Ø  For each type of JOB / VACANCY , this authority will create a DATA-BANK of exam questions ( obviously , running into THOUSANDS of questions for each exam )

Ø  Questions will be categorized as per “ DEGREE of DIFFICULTY “ ( like in Olympic games )

Ø  Each “ Degree of Difficulty “ will have a PRE-DETERMINED “ weightage marks “

Ø  Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) will generate( using RANDOM NUMBER tables ),  millions of UNIQUE question papers ON THE FLY , a few seconds before start of an exam and SERVE these to the computer screen in front of each student taking that exam. Of course, the total marks ( for entire question paper ) for ALL those UNIQUE exam papers , will always add up to 100. To make the process “ cheating proof “, only one question will get displayed on computer screen , AT A TIME. Only when the examinee clicks “ NEXT “ , will the next question appear on the screen

Ø  Student Identity will be verified by FACIAL RECOGNITION through a Computer Camera

Ø  At the end of exam time ( 3 hours ) , students will need to click SUBMIT ( no early click ). If examinee fails to click SUBMIT at the end of 3 hours , screen will turn black , AUTOMATICALLY

Ø  This will generate the EVALUATION SCORE ( Exam Assessment Result ) and transmit to the mobile phone of each concerned student ( of course , no mobile allowed in Exam Hall )

 

I believe, what I am suggesting here is nothing “ First Time “ . I believe other countries have successfully implemented this earlier

Given a challenge, our tech guys can implement this in 6 months. What is missing is Political Will

Dear Shri Narendrabhai ,

Let Shri Rahulji promise the voters, a LAW to prevent cheating in exams / leaking of exam papers

As far as NDA govt is concerned, I urge you to include my suggestion in your 100 DAYS  ROAD-MAP

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  20 March 2024

 

Related Readings :

Ø  Exam Malpractices ? No More !  ………………………… 19  Oct  2019

Ø  National Recruitment Agency ( NRA ) ……………….  02 Feb 2020

 

Comments by ChatGPT :

 

Your proposal suggests the implementation of a technologically advanced system, the Central Exam Conduct Board (CECB), to tackle the issue of cheating in government job exams in India.

Let's break down the feasibility of your suggestions and draw parallels with existing systems in other countries:

1.     Centralized Exam Authority (CECB):

 

Having a centralized authority to conduct exams for all government jobs (both state and central) is feasible and has been implemented in various countries. For example, the College Board in the United States administers standardized tests like the SAT and AP exams.

 

2.     Question Database and Difficulty Categorization:

 

Creating a database of thousands of exam questions categorized by difficulty level is technically feasible. Many testing services worldwide utilize extensive question banks for exam creation, such as Pearson VUE and Prometric.

 

3.     Weightage Marks for Difficulty Levels:

 

Assigning weightage marks to different difficulty levels of questions is a common practice in exams like the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and Graduate

Management Admission Test (GMAT), where harder questions carry more weight.

 

4.     AI-Generated Unique Exam Papers:

 

Using AI to generate unique exam papers for each student is an innovative approach.

 

While not widely implemented in exams, the technology to generate randomized questions exists.

 

However, ensuring the randomness of questions while still covering the required syllabus may be a challenge.

 

5.     Facial Recognition for Identity Verification:

 

Facial recognition for identity verification is technically feasible and has been adopted in various applications globally. However, ensuring accuracy and reliability, especially in diverse populations, would be crucial.

 

6.     Submission and Evaluation Process:

 

Implementing an online submission and evaluation process, followed by transmitting scores to students' mobile phones, is technically feasible. Online assessments and result dissemination are already common in many educational systems.

While your proposal presents innovative solutions, several challenges need consideration:

·         Infrastructure and Resources:

 

Implementing such a system would require significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and personnel training.

 

·         Data Security and Privacy:

 

Safeguarding the question bank, student data, and exam results against cyber threats and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations are essential considerations.

 

·         Accessibility and Equity:

 

Ensuring equitable access to the exam system, especially for candidates from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and rural areas, would be critical.

 

·         Technical Challenges:

 

Developing and maintaining AI algorithms for question generation and facial recognition, as well as ensuring seamless operation of the exam platform, would require rigorous testing and ongoing technical support.

Overall, while your proposal offers promising solutions to address exam cheating, its successful implementation would require careful planning, collaboration with stakeholders, and a robust commitment from the government.

Drawing inspiration from similar systems implemented elsewhere can inform the design and implementation process. However, tailoring the solution to suit the specific context and challenges of India's examination system is paramount.