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Unit 21 : Semester System vs Annual System

comes a difference of only six months if such incident occurs in the final semester. It eradicates Notes
stagnation in the field of education.
(2) The second merit of this system is that the study work goes on in the summer vacations. The
teaching of those students continues in the summer vacations who have failed in a subject in
the previous semesters.
(3) The third merit of this system is that the students have to complete limited and comparatively
less course in a semester and their attention is turned towards it, so they are able to
understand and assimilate it better.
(4) The students attend the classes in this system regularly and involve themselves in the
studies continuously, and the problem of indiscipline in students is diminished.
(5) The teachers too have to work hard throughout the year, they are duty bound to complete
the task within the limited time.

21.7 Demerits of Annual System

The semester system has its own limitations and demerits :
(1) The semester system can only be used in the field of higher education where the number of
students is limited. This system cannot be used at primary and secondary levels.
(2) It is a difficult proposition to determine curriculum of each semester and administer
examinations at the end of each semester.
(3) In this system, the number of students re-appearing at the examinations with a desire to
either clear the previous paper or papers or to obtain more marks in a particular paper or
papers is comparatively large. To make arrangements for them in the examination
programme and to prepare their results according to the new results is a difficult and
complex task
(4) The students are always under the hammer of examinations.

21.8 Annual System VS Semester System

Comparison between semester and annual systems is very often done. Both the systems have its
merits and demerits. Annual system is the traditional system. Annual system covers more
syllabuses at a stretch and compels the student to remember all this till the end of the year.
Sometimes two or more topics will be included in the same paper (very often, a paper will have
to be set by two examiners under such situations), when specializations are there. Otherwise,
certain topics will be omitted and the syllabus diluted. Since at the end of the year only the
public examinations are conducted University gets enough time to prepare question papers and
value answer papers. Number of examiners and examinations also can be reduced, which become
more economical for Universities. Results can be announced in time and the schedule can be
kept.
In semester system, the students get more advantage; since examinations are held within months
what is studied will remain afresh in their brain). The syllabus load also will be less. Different
topics need not be combined in the same paper. Students get more chances to improve also.
Since examinations come within a few months student unrest also will be less in a semester
system. There were many challenges to be faced by the under graduate colleges in preparing the
students for the semester system. The semester system is a very proactive system as it engages
both the faculty and the students throughout the year in academic activity. While, in the annual
system once the student enters the college he feels free and thinks about studying only during
the exam time. Semester system not only involves students more throughout the year but also
reduces examination burden. The semester system is the need of hour and a very effective one.

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