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Thu, 07 Feb 2013

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Examinations and Classes


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The following mail what sent to IISERM students.

Many of you seem to be confused about the role of classes/labs and examinations at IISER Mohali.1

The above statement is based on the fact that almost all of you come for examinations and many of you miss a large number of classes/labs.

The purpose of examinations at IISER Mohali is for you to get a measure of how much you have learnt, and for the instructor to get a feedback on how much that has been taught has got across and what percentage of students have "got it". The marks and grades that result from examinations are a side effect!

To repeat, the grades that you get from examinations are not the primary purpose of the examinations.2

If you do not attend classes or labs, then there is no feedback to the instructor --- since she/he can think "Of course, the material I taught has not got across. The students are not attending."

Each faculty member at IISER has subject expertise that gives a unique perspective on the subject that is being taught. Missing their lectures is a way to ensure that you do not gain their insight. Reading the same material from a textbook is not the same thing as attending lectures. (Anyone, anywhere can do that --- even sitting at an internet cafe downloading books and courses ... and perhaps even reading them!)

So attending classes (not just being in the audience!) is an integral part of this process. Asking questions of the instructor/tutors is an equally important part.

The way the curriculum and the programme are structured, the emphasis is on learning not on grades. A student who meets the minimum CPI3 requirements is given a degree after doing all the required courses; The degree does not reflect the CPI!4 This means that if you tried to learn in some courses and failed to learn, but on average you learnt something substantial from many courses, you will still get a degree.

In fact, if you learn something substantial, you get a chance to show that in your final-year project which is weighted at 32 credits -- twice than the weightage of all courses in your least favourite subject in the the first two years!

In summary, take an interest in learning stuff at IISER Mohali ... the rest will follow.


  1. This mail is prompted by the low attendance in classes before and after the mid-semester examinations.

  2. This is not to say that grades are irrelevant. However, learning can compensate for lower grades since you can demonstrate your skill, while grades can never compensate for something not learned.

  3. Given that there are more grades (A,B,C) above 5 points than below, it is clearly "easier" to get above 5.0 than below 5.0.

  4. Of course, the CPI will be on your grade card.


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