The recently held second phase of the Kerala Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Common Preliminary Exam (Degree Level) for recruitment to posts such as university assistant and sub-inspector conducted was found difficult by several candidates.
Many of the questions were very tough and candidates struggled to answer all of them within the allotted time. With the first two of the three phases over, job seekers should realize that there are no short-cuts to secure a high score in the degree-level exam.
The ideal strategy in the test is to initially answer the easy questions and later take up the difficult ones. Otherwise, the candidates would waste time with passage-based questions.
Maths and Malayalam
Compared to the first phase, the Maths questions in the second phase were tough. Several candidates, who had expected easy Maths questions this time also, lost much time in answering them. At least 10 questions in this section were really tricky.
At the same time, the Malayalam questions were relatively easy for a majority of candidates.
Confusing translation
Questions were available in English and Malayalam in the exam. However, the questions in Malayalam left the candidates confused. It was as if the original English version was changed to Malayalam with the help of Google translator. Time was lost in understanding the Malayalam questions also. It was easier to go through the questions in English and answer.
Tough and easy questions
Several questions in each section could be answered without difficulty by an average candidate. In General Knowledge there were at least 32 such questions. For Maths there were 10 such questions and 10 and seven each for English and Malayalam sections. In total, marks could be scored for these 59 questions.
But, the remaining 41 questions should have been avoided by an average candidate. Guess work would do no good in the test as wrong answers would invite negative marks.
Summing up, an average candidate can expect 50-55 marks in the test, while an applicant who carried out intensive preparations may score 60-65 marks.
Next phase
Cut-off marks for the exam cannot be predicted at this juncture as the third phase is yet to be completed. With the third phase scheduled to take place on May 27, candidates should engage in full-fledged study to score good marks. A good method is to practise answering previous question papers within the allotted time. Initially, answer the questions which you know and later take up the tough ones.