Gujarat Govt allows open book exam for Classes 8-10

Read here about a recent decision by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) to implement open book exam for Classes 8-10 starting 2009.

The goal is to reduce student stress in exams emphasizing that exams should test for knowledge and not your memory power. A lot of toppers are fretting and might feel they have lost some competitive advantage with this move.

However, I am in the camp of open book policy - not necessarily because I think this favors some over others. I argue that open book policy in exams tend to make exams tougher than easier since examiners don't only test you on things that require a smart book index. Instead, most examiners test for ability to apply learnings to new problem spaces, so while open book helps alleviate pain around remembering formulas, theorems, history dates - it will still require students to come prepared to exams knowing how to apply their knowledge instead of memorizing and do it faster than everyone else.

So for toppers in Gujarat - don't fret, take this in your stride and look forward to a newer challenges in exams. Also, in the US, most MBA schools are open book, so no harm in starting early and getting used to this. As always, easier preached than done!!!