The Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination candidates found Friday's Chemistry exam much easier than the model exam paper on the same subject held earlier. In other words most candidates hope to score good marks in Chemistry too after easy outings with earlier English and Malayalam papers.

The students who made serious preparations taking into consideration the standard of the model exam wouldn’t find it difficult to get an ‘A Plus’. The score distribution in units was also justifiable.

The first question concerning PVC was easy for the majority of students to answer. The fourth and fifth questions were too easy, while the second and third questions were not tough.

The 10th question asking to spell out the chemical equation in the section carrying two marks may not be tough for brilliant and hardworking students, but others may find it difficult. The first four questions in this section cement the confidence of the students in cracking the exam, especially the question related to the mole concept.

In the C section carrying 3 marks, the first question in the first unit was in the normal pattern. Since the next question concerning displacement reaction has come in the same pattern as discussed in the textbook, students won’t find it difficult to tackle. However, the question asking to write the chemical equation of oxidation in the ‘B’ section would disappoint some of the students.

Of questions 13, 14, and 15, at least some students might find the 14-C a difficult one. Question number 15 turned out to be the easiest that can be asked from that unit. But those students who noticed a mistake in the formula of ‘propane’ given in the first column of the question table might have been a bit confused (they might be compensated for the error).

Question 16 was the same that was asked in the model examination (Q:19). The students who have practised the same might have found it easy.

The ‘C’ section of question 17 would have been clearer if it was asked like ‘A balloon filled with air gets bigger (increase in volume) when exposed to sunlight’. The textbook discusses the relationship between temperature and volume to help the students get the concept. Likewise, it should be also considered that all balloons exposed to sunlight might not burst on all occasions.

Question 19 was a well-formulated remake of question 16 of the model examination. While question 20 is similar to the content discussed in the textbook, it would have been more apt had the ‘C’ part asked the students to determine the number of Isomer molecule pairs.

In General, the Chemistry examination left a majority of students relieved and happy. The SSLC exam in Kerala commenced on March 9.

Information Courtesy: Babu Payyath (GHSS, Avala Kuttoth, Kozhikode)