Typo in Essay paper and Re-Exam

Buddha · #1 Friday, March 07, 2014

Dawn published two letters about typo in the Essay paper.

The first one was published on 27-2-2013

I RECENTLY appeared in CSS examinations at Rawalpindi. It is an examination which takes months to prepare and carries the hopes and dreams of many striving students.

However, owing to a typo by the FPSC precious time of many candidates will be wasted and hopes will dash. In the essay examination held on Feb 15, there was a typo in the essay number 10 (there was a choice of 10 essays out of which one had to be attempted) which read ‘Violence is a large refuge of the incompetent’ and was later corrected as ‘Violence is a last refuge of the incompetent’.

The typo changed the meaning of the essay and the worst part is that candidates were notified of this error as late as one hour and 15 minutes at my examination centre. When students protested, they were told to swallow this bitter pill and simply move on.

The essay examination consists of one question of 100 marks. The essay part of the examination is the toughest hurdle in clearing the CSS examination. Results over the years show that nearly 90 per cent of candidates fail to clear this part.

Since candidates struggle for passing the examination in three hours, in my case I had just one hour and 30 minutes to attempt the question. This means I do not stand a chance of clearing the examination.

Applications have been given demanding a retake of the examination but so far the FPSC has remained cold.

So far the incident has been kept under the carpet. Let us hope that somebody in the upper echelons of power takes notice of this typo and gives the affected candidates relief.

A candidate
Rawalpindi

Here's the second one published today:

THIS is apropos letter ‘Typo in CSS paper’ (Feb 27). The writer complained about the correction in one of the topics in the essay paper and also proposed what should be done now by the FPSC.

I agree with the writer when it is said that the delay in informing the candidates about the correction led to a reduced time span for candidates who attempted that essay. The letter said that “applications have been given demanding a retake of the examination but so far the FPSC has remained cold.”

However, I would like say that in case the FPSC decides to retake the paper, the candidates should be given choice whether they want to attempt again or not. Otherwise even those candidates who did not attempt the said topic will have to take the examination again.

Only affected candidates should be asked to retake the examination and all those who are happy with their essay paper should be marked for the one taken on Feb 15.

A candidate

Islamabad

Will there be a possible re-exam? Grace marks? What do seniors and moderators think? Is there a precedent of this type?

waqas izhar · #2 Friday, March 07, 2014

with all due respect, does it matter? the examiner will be notified and the ones who attempted the large one may even be at an advantage. i don't think that topic matters, it is how the topic has been dealt with, that is going to fetch marks...

Buddha · #3 Friday, March 07, 2014

large refuge hardly makes sense.

usmanwrites · #4 Friday, March 07, 2014

Dear this is a famous adage and widely used in newspapers owing to current scenario. Although i did not attempt this topic but i knew there is typo when i had glance at this topic. This happened mainly because examiner was forced to change the whole paper at the spur of the moment owing to bribe scandal that surfaced just couple of days before the exams.

Buddha · #5 Friday, March 07, 2014

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel is the original line.

They replaced Patriotism with Violence and Scoundrel with Incompetent.

usmanwrites · #6 Friday, March 07, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddha

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel is the original line.

They replaced Patriotism with Violence and Scoundrel with Incompetent.

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent"
Isaac Asimov

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9658...he-incompetent

http://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov

usmanwrites · #7 Friday, March 07, 2014

Moreover two of the most expected quotations appeared.
You know the first one.
Second :" peace hath its victories not less renowned than war" - Milton

In other words great nations win without fighting

Buddha · #8 Saturday, March 08, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmanwrites

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent"
Isaac Asimov

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9658...he-incompetent

http://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov

Oh! Isaac Asimov did that! Lol, I thought paper maker was creative enough to change Dr. Johnson's line.

SMBilalShah · #9 Saturday, March 08, 2014

No one announced any correction at my exam center in Lahore. The problem is, unless the FPSC ensures (through a notification) that candidates will be judged according to the title they attempted, this issue will continue to bother those who were affected.

EngrAbdul · #10 Saturday, March 08, 2014

Definitely bro! its very unfortunate ,and irresponsible on the part of FPSC.
the correction was made in almost all the centres in khi

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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Buddha For This Useful Post:
amnakhan (Friday, March 07, 2014), waqas izhar (Friday, March 07, 2014)

The Following User Says Thank You to usmanwrites For This Useful Post:
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The Following User Says Thank You to Buddha For This Useful Post:
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