4.8.1 Conduct of examinations

4.8.1.1 Number of examinations in a semester

There are two examinations viz., Mid-term and End-term examination. The End-term examination consists of both theory and practical components wherever necessary.

4.8.1.2 Distribution of marks

Distribution of questions, duration and marks in theoretical and practical examinations are as under. The concerned course teacher(s) conduct practical examinations. The distribution of marks is as under (Table 4.6).

Table 4.6 Pattern, duration and mark distribution of examinations

Mid-term examination

• Mid-term examination is conducted centrally in the College in the middle of the semester as per Academic Calendar.
• The Dean issues notice for mid-term examination, normally at least 30(thirty) days ahead of the examination. The notification of holding examinations is intimated to the Registrar for record. The schedule of examination is completed within 6 (six) days.
• A student must seat for the mid-term examination of a course to be eligible for appearing in the end-term/ repeat examination.

End-term examination

• End-term examination is conducted centrally in the College at the end of the semester as per Academic Calendar.
• The Dean issues notice for end-term examinations, normally at least 30(thirty) days ahead of the examinations. The notification of holding examinations is intimated to the Registrar for record. The schedule of examination is completed within 10 (ten) days.
• The practical examination is conducted before the end-term theory examination.

Suspension of classes during examination

The classes remain suspended during mid-term examination. Classes are ordinarily suspended 3(three) days prior to the date of commencement of the end-term theory examination.

Re-examination

In the event of any kind of breach of these regulations, the Vice-Chancellor may order for holding any examination afresh on the recommendation of Faculty Academic Co-ordination Committee (FACC). However, such re-examination shall have to be placed before the Academic Council for its appraisal.

Question paper
The students are evaluated for their academic achievement in a particular course through a question paper set for the purpose, following the guidelines approved by the Academic Council from time to time. The questions papers for different examinations are set as given under:

(a) Mid-term examination: Common question papers covering 30 marks are set by the concerned course teacher(s). The Dean monitors the setting of question papers for U.G. programme. Normally the course teacher(s) shall set the question paper for a course. However, under exceptional circumstances the Dean may assign the responsibility of setting question paper to any teacher(s) other than the course teacher(s).The question papers must reflect the total course syllabus as prescribed. A total of 30% of the questions in a question paper shall be of objective type and the rest 70% question shall be of descriptive type. Under no circumstances, questions can be set from any other material, such as assignment(s), etc. for which separate evaluation is done.

(b) End-term examination: In the end-term examination, question paper covering 70 marks for each course is set by the external paper setters. The panel of external paper setters for each course of a department is proposed by the Dean for prior approval of the Vice-Chancellor as per prescribed guidelines. The Dean appoints the paper setters and collects the question papers well in advance of commencement of the end-term examination. The question papers obtained from the external paper setters may be moderated if required by the Dean in consultation with the departmental co¬ordination committee. External paper setters are also invited to come over to conduct the examination and to evaluate the answer scripts.

Evaluation

Evaluation of theory and practical examination

The evaluation of answer script of the theory and practical examinations is done by the course teacher(s)/ external examiner as per guidelines. However, under special circumstances, the Dean may assign the responsibility to any other teacher(s).

Evaluation of In-plant training and Hands on Training (HoT) programme

As per the guidelines of the 4th Deans’ Committee during the VIIth semester, students in In-plant training are placed under the control of some fisheries institutions outside the state like Central Institute of Fisheries Education- Kakinada, Kolkata and Mumbai centre for 6 months. The respective host institution supervise the whole In-plant training programme gives the grade for that course. At the VIIIth semester students’ undergoes the Hands on Training (HoT) programme under the Department of Aquaculture of the College. During this period they are exposed to field experience in aquaculture. One or two teachers from the Faculty supervise the whole programme and evaluate it from an interdisciplinary point of view.

In-plant and Hands on Training (HoT) Programme is mandatory for completion of the BFSc degree programme. Accordingly the Assam Agricultural University has set up its own guidelines for implementing the said programme at the College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha.

Both the programmes carry weightage in terms of credit loads (20+20=40 credits) in two semesters. The programme supervisor of both the programmes evaluates students’ day-to-day performance in each component. Weightage of the marks for the award of grade to the students is given below (Table 4.7).

Table 4.7 Weightage of marks for award of grade in In-plant and HoT programmes

a) In-plant training programme

b) HoT programme

Grace marks

Grace marks in any form shall not be awarded under any circumstances.

Minimum qualifying marks:

A student must pass separately both in theory and practical examinations of a course and must secure the minimum 50% marks in case of an Under- Graduate and 60% marks in Post-Graduate degree programmes.