The first paper in the new pattern of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams of Telangana did not surprise anyone and was on expected lines with students finding it comfortable despite the change.

The first language paper-I was held on Wednesday, and students said that the questions were in indirect form as expected in the new pattern. Even the school teachers said the paper did not deviate from the pattern and students found it comfortable to answer as they were well prepared. “We were prepared for this pattern and the questions were indirect rather than direct,” said Swapna, a student of a private school in Habsiguda.

The Director of Government Examinations, B. Seshu Kumari, said that the exam was held without any hiccups in the entire State. Seven cases of malpractice were booked in the State with three cases each from Mahabubnagar and Adilabad and one from Nizamabad. Four invigilators were relieved from the examination duties for indulging in malpractice.

The SSC public exams are being held for the first time in the new pattern after the government introduced Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation method with 20 marks earmarked for internal assessment. Moreover, the pattern of question also changed from direct to indirect so that students have to understand the concept first and answer rather than blindly mugging the answers.

Meanwhile, the SSC exams in Andhra Pradesh are starting on Thursday. The APSRTC has said that students appearing for the exams will be allowed to travel free on RTC buses from their residence to the examination centres and back. They have to show their hall-ticket as proof of writing the exam.