With the pandemic, there was a change that took place among IBA. Instead of the usual mid-terms and finals, IBA came up with a solution to assist students by giving them three major exams, typically known as ‘hourlies’, each being 75 minutes long.
IBA canceled the physical examination last year, in an account of covid-19. The students were in a frenzy, waiting for a decision from the admin. Soon after, the students were notified of the final decision. Everything was left up to the teachers. To not cause such an alarm this year, IBA came up with the hourly system.
Why did IBA implement hourlies?
Before we start, we must take a deeper look into what the IBA admin wanted to achieve with the hourlies. Firstly, the idea of helping students during the covid-19 period. With the pandemic and a whole year in quarantine, it was obvious students had been well equipped to online learning and exams. It would have been daunting for students to come to university and give three-hour-long exams. No wonder they decided to go with hourlies!
Moreover, the syllabus division would have been easier if the teachers were to divide them into three major parts instead of two. Yay to less course load and a more organized way to deal with studies! Another reason could be more opportunities to improve in academics. The hourlies being equally split in weightage gave the students a chance to do better even if the other hourlies had gone bad.
All of this was a fabrication IBA had intended to accomplish. A utopian vision, as some might say. Only if it was implemented right though.
Where did it all go wrong?
In a recent survey done among students, 54% of the students at IBA were quick to shut down the idea of giving hourlies next semester. Why is that the case? According to most pupils, the hourlies are a fallacy. A way to tell students we’re easing you of your burden when in fact, we’re on the same path as before.
In an attempt to help the students, it changed into a completely different situation. Many students complained about the gap of the hourlies being too close and further stressing them.
One student took to clarify this situation:
The only thing I remember about this semester is only giving hourlies after each month. That’s it. I don’t remember doing anything else. Non stop pressure!
Anonymous.
Some members of the faculty also shared their experience with the hourly system. They spoke about how the student performances hadn’t had much of a difference when compared to mid-terms and finals. This defeats the purpose of hourlies.
Moments of Vague Reality:
Although it is to mention, many people praised the hourly system. Many seniors talked about how it was easier for them to deal with studies when it came to hourlies. One student says:
The breakup of the course successfully taught the different concepts without just memorising it. I was able to actually learn this semester rather than cram a week before finals or midterms.
Anonymous.
Nevertheless, many students were self-reflective of the situation. A point to add was the treatment of the last hourly as a final exam. They mentioned the added syllabus of the first two hourlies to the third one and the difference in time, in some cases two and a half-hour long papers, was a poor choice by the teachers. The inadequate execution is evident.
A rather qualitative research into the student opinions on hourlies was held by the team of IBA Today recently. They went around campus and asked students to pick between hourlies and finals.
To conclude, the idea of the hourly system is a utopian vision. The system itself promises more than it has been able to achieve. From the likes of it, it has been granted more time. The confirmation of IBA officially keeping the hourly system has been announced and it may just be bad news for a lot of students out there!
