Faulty questions in SPSC screening tests puzzle candidates

2,200 candidates from across Sindh appeared for the test

HYDERABAD: Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), which conducted screening tests for combined competitive exams (CCE) 2019 on Sunday, seems to be continuing on the path of making lapses in the question paper. Some candidates, who took the test at the Hyderabad centre, pointed out to The Express Tribune a wrong multiple choice question which they encountered in the screening test.

"Geology is to earth, similarly entomology is to," the question asked, giving four choices: reptiles, cells, tissues and mammals, to select from as the right answer. However, none of the four choices pertain to entomology which is the study of insects.



"Such mistakes are repeated in all the tests conducted by SPSC," alleged a candidate, who requested anonymity, giving reference of CCE 2018 in which two wrong questions were given to the candidates.

SPSC Spokesperson Hifzullah Kaka, while quoting the examinations controller said that the commission has not received a complaint from any candidate in this regard so far. "If we received a complaint or an application, we will refer the matter to the committee of experts."

According to him, if the question is proved to be wrong, a single mark will be given to all the candidates. "Two wrong questions were identified by the experts in CCE 2018. The commission to rectify the mistake gave two marks to all the candidates," he told The Express Tribune.



The spokesperson was asked why the commission is awaiting a formal application by a candidate when it can itself review the identified wrong question. He replied that self-review is also not out of the question.

To another query, he said no action has been taken against the paper-setting team responsible for adding two wrong questions in the screening test for CCE 2018.

Around 2,200 candidates were issued the admit slips. The test was conducted at seven centres in the six cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Benazirabad and Tharparkar.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2018.