Essay on A SCENE IN THE EXAMINATION HALL

 

A SCENE IN THE EXAMINATION HALL

By Mrunal Shethiya

 It was with a feeling of excitement that I went to the college which was my center for the SSC examination. SSC examination considered very important for a student and so my father also accompanied me to the center. This was my very first experience of facing a public examination.

The examination was scheduled to start at 11 am. But we reached the center at 9-30 a.m., for I was a bit nervous and wanted to locate my seat. The gate of the college building was locked. I had to wait  by the roadside. There were many other candidates waiting outside the college compound. When I saw that they were also jittery like me. I began to feel a little relieved. At 10 a.m. the watchman opened the gate and we rushed in to read the instructions on the notice-board. A list had been displayed showing the floor and the classroom of the candidates. I shoved my way through the crowd and scanned the list for my number. On account of my nervousness | could not find my number, but my father could find it within a few minutes, I was relieved.

For the next half an hour or so I sat in the corner of the compound under a tree and rapidly glanced through my notes. As I raised my head and looked around. I saw that almost all the students were engrossed in the last minute revision. At 10-45 went the first bell and we entered our respective examination halls. The parents wished their children success, gave some last minute instructions las parents usually do), waved their hands and left.

The invigilator was already there. He instructed us to keep aside all our books and notebooks. He snatched away the books and notebooks of a few examinees who were busy going through them till the last minute. Then he distributed the answer books to us, and asked us to fill up the details on the front page. And then all the students raised a subdued shout as the question papers began to be distributed.

The examination started at 11 a.m. I began to perspire as the question paper was handed over to me. For a minute or two my mind blank and I felt I would not be able to write anything. But as I glanced through the question paper, my confidence returned and my hope revived. Now I began to feel that the questions were very easy and that I would be able to do full justice to all of them. I straightaway started writing. I was writing my paper furiously till 11-30 when I heard the whisper of the boy sitting next to me. He was asking me to put my answer book closer to him. I ignored him. On the third occasion, he stretched out his hand and snatched my written supplement towards him. Within a moment the invigilator was right by my side. “Do you want to get into trouble?” he asked me. I told him the truth. He admonished my neighbour and only after that did the latter leave me alone. The rest of the examination passed. Smoothly.

I completed writing all answers at 1-45 and tied up all the answer sheets. Then I hurriedly went through the answers to revise them. At 1-50 there was the warning bell and the invigilator Instructed all the candidates to tie up their supplements. He moved round and helped students to tie up the supplements. As the final bell rang at 2 p.m. the invigilator Instructed all the candidates to stop writing. Then he went round and collected the answer books. As I handed over my answer book I was beaming with delight because I had performed very well.