9.6 lakh Class 10 students to sit for board exams from today

The exams would begin on March 16 and end on April 20, 2018. The exams would be conducted in 3,609 centres. Since it would be the concluding high school leaving exam for the old syllabus, many students fear that the question papers might be tough this year. 

“We heard that the exams may be hard this year since we are from the last batch. Therefore, I put in extra effort by studying for a minimum ten hours per day,” S Bala Vignesh, a class 10 student, from Sankara Matriculation Higher Secondary school, Pammal, told DT Next.

He predicts that the Maths exams will be tougher than other subjects. Likewise, his classmate S Arvind, who secured the first rank in school in Class 9, also seemed concerned about how tough the exams would be. “I consulted with many teachers and they gave me several tips on how to tackle complicated questions,” he added.

Even private students, who are appearing for the exam second time this year, sounded worried about not getting through even this time and expressed fears about preparing again with a new syllabus. “I find Science very tough. I am under a lot of pressure to clear the exams this time. Otherwise, I need to write the next one with the new syllabus,” KS Suresh, a private student, said.

More than 36,000 private students from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be appearing for the exams. In addition, five transgenders also registered for the exams this year.

In order to benefit students in reaching the examination venue soon, the Directorate of School Examinations have opened up an extra 237 exam centres across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Arrangements were also made for 186 prisoners in the State, for writing the examination at Puzhal, Trichy, Palayamkottai and Coimbatore prisons. About 6,900 flying squads and standing squads have been appointed to monitor the examination proceedings throughout the day. Special Observers have also been deployed for visiting various examination venues to oversee the proceedings.

Authorities have also established a 24-hour examination control room where students and public can call on 9385494105, 9385494115, 9385494120 and 9385494125 for queries. They can also lodge complaints, if any.