Madhyamik tomorrow

TT, Feb. 20: Madhyamik 2017 begins on Wednesday with a new pattern of questions that devotes up to 40 per cent of the total marks in each paper to Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and short-answer-type questions.

Till last year, multiple-choice and short-answer questions (of one mark each) accounted for between five and 10 marks. "This will be the first batch of students to be tested under the new system," Kalyanmoy Ganguly, the president of the secondary education board, said on Monday.

The board had published model questions after revision of the marks-distribution pattern to help students. The decision to increase the number of MCQs and short-answer questions is aimed at encouraging students to study the entire syllabus, sources said.

The theory exams will continue till March 3. Students will write one paper each day from 11.45am to 3pm.

The first 15 minutes will be reserved for reading the question paper.

Students or their parents can call at 23213811/ 23592269/ 23213089/ 23213844 between 6am and midnight on the days of the exams for any information related to the tests or to lodge complaints. They can also call at 9433881670/ 9748102214.