My class 12th boards. The biggest lie ever advertised. 3
years, 3 BLOODY years I was told lies.
"10th and 11th
are building blocks for 12th."
"Everybody
does good in boards."
"Boards decide
your future!" *insert random smirk because girls find it sexy*
I have a love for books that share their knowledge with
me. It's strange, but I'd prefer an Encyclopedia over a novel any given day.
Facts interest me. Science *used* to interest me before I was taught REAL
science in school, real being the keyword.
"Light is made
of particles." Can't really eat 'em up. Don't care. I'm hungry.
"SOCl2 converts
Alcohol to Alkyl Halide." Can't eat 'em up either. Don't care. Still
hungry.
The science I was taught in my school really isn’t worthy
of being called science. Science is
practice. Science is method. Science is thought. All I was taught was how to
memorize textbooks.
Without further ado, let's talk about my Practical Exams,
shall we.
1. PHYSICS
I got the task of calculating focal length of a convex
lens. Tough task for someone who hasn't ever entered the laboratory eh. My
physics teacher came up and removed the parallax for me. HE DID MY PRACTICAL
FOR ME. If anyone wants a concise proof of a person's laziness, contact me. I
got my practical file checked 2 minutes before the viva. THE VIVA. 2 MINUTES.
My partner and I went up for the viva in a rush, intimidated by the examiner’s
daunting expression. The external examiner calmly smiled at us and asked us
about our projects. I had rattofied near about everything so it was easy. The
calm before the storm, eh? It took her a moment to realise my knowledge of
semiconductors was weak and bam, barrage of questions related to
semiconductors. I wish I could say that my viva went pathetic, but I'd just be
understating it greatly.
Scored 30/30 in
the physics practical. Surprise surprise.
2. CHEMISTRY
“Calculate the
percentage purity of a solution of 2M Mohr Salt.” I gladly set to work
knowing that I'd at least be able to do this much.
"Beta value 9
aur 11 ke beech me aani chahie. Sahi likhna.", I hear the lab
assistant whispering in my ear. Dumbfounded, I turn around to look at the
examiner. TEA AND BISCUITS. The guy's gorging on food, and here we're being
told all the answers. BRIBERY?
"Salt No. 113
is Mercury Nitrate." Well thank you for that vital piece of
information sir. Now I officially have nothing to do in my practical. What
about the viva, you ask? I'm not ashamed to admit chemistry's not my cup of
tea. I stumble with my answers and well IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME. The war
commences. I have the same partner as before, but he has more knowledge of
chemistry than me. After a series of questions, the examiner can easily tell
I'm not a chemical fanatic, as my mates like to put it. (rhymes with kinetics
yeah lame sue them I don't care.)
He asks me which chapter I’d like him to quiz me on. Me
being the reproachable jerk I am, calmly answer that Chemistry is my weak
subject. The guy smirks and asks me to name my favourite subject. I say Computer
Science.
"Write a
program to calculate the square of a number."
SERIOUSLY? Asking me CS questions in a chemistry
practical? Upar se itna “TOUGH” question?
I write down the code, and he asks both of us to leave.
We solemnly get up and rush out, sad that our chemistry viva got ruined too.
Scored 30/30.
Surprise surprise.
3. COMPUTER SCIENCE
"Choose any 2 questions out of the 6 you've been
given and code them out."
....We have a choice?
Fine, if that's how it works out. I pick the toughest of
the lot, just because bored and I had already been assured I would be given
30/30. Being in the school’s computer club has it’s own perks. It takes me an
hour of the 3 hour long practical to complete my questions and I go to the
teacher's lab to listen to songs on Youtube. An hour later, I'm called in with
my friends Yash and Virat for the viva.
Examiner :
Hello.
The three of us in unison : Good morning ma'am.
Examiner :
I've heard a lot about the 3 of you. Would you like to share something?
Yash : Well
ma'am we would like the practical first. We'll tell you of our achievements
later.
Examiner :
Well I'd like to hear them now.
Me : Well
ma'am we were chosen to represent India internationally *skips 10 minutes of
show off* and yeah, we're rank 1.
Examiner :
That's really amazing! Show me your project?
*guide her over to the PC*
Examiner :
Well that's just.. Amazing. Well done. Dp any one of you have an interest in
robotics?
Virat : Yes
ma'am, I'm the robotics' club VP and Yash went to a national level competition
last month.
Examiner :
That's nice to hear. What other interests do you have?
Yash : Well I
sing, Virat's into theatre and Sanjam designs games in his leisure time.
Examiner :
Your parents must be proud of you. Well I wish you luck for your future. You
may leave now.
…OKAAAAAY.
30 MINUTES of viva, and not 1 question related to CS was
asked. Heck, I even coded in my chemistry practical. How is this even logical.
Scored 30/30.
Wonders of the world.
I was given free
marks. Why am I complaining? I’m not. It’s just that the system makes me sad.
Just because I had a good impression with the teachers, I was given marks.
Students more deserving than me went on to score 25/30 just because they’re not
on good terms with the teachers. The grapes taste sour. I’m not happy.
