KATHMANDU: Sitting for an exam that contains unanswerable questions is the worse experience for any student. Can there be anything worse than that? From disturbing examinee to cheating friends to unconcerned invigilators, there are numbers of other things that can affect your performance in the exams. Some of our college goers share with The Himalayan Times, their experiences in the exam hall.

During one of the board examinations of BDS, a student from another college, who was behind me in the exam hall, requested me to help her solve her questions. In a hope to get her help in the next paper, I cooperated with her. But, in the test of next subject, she refused to help me. It made me angry and we had a discussion. One of her friends was sitting in front of me and she tried to see her friend’s (the girl sitting behind me) answer sheet. As a revenge, I did not let her see her friend’s answer sheet — I blocked it with my body. That was a memorable incident.

— Pranayanki Domzone, BDS IIIrd Year, Kathmandu Medical College, Duwakot

Exams help us to think critically, and boost our confidence level. After attending test, we realise our strength and weakness in that particular subject. While preparing for exams we learn to interact with others. Whenever we can’t solve difficult questions, we discuss with our friends and teachers and try to solve them. And this interaction helps us in the examinations later on. I often interact with my friends and teachers to prepare for exams. As such I have never failed in any exams, except for once when I got sick. I was unwell before the board examinations of Class XI. It was the exam of Economics, but I hadn’t recovered. Despite being unwell, I went to attend the exams. I could not solve questions properly — but I stayed for three hours trying to write something. I failed for the first time in my life. I was sad but consoled myself.

—Srijana Tamang, Class XII, Nepal Institute of Management and Science, Lagankhel