Mathematics viva

Back when I was in 10th std, we were under this tremendous pressure of board exams.

On top of that we also had vivas for the 20 internal markings for which an external examiner.

For each subject, we had a college style setup where two teachers: our subject teacher (as internal examiner) and a teacher from outside the institution (as external examiner) sat down to take one student at a time.

On the 4th day, when we had the maths viva, I was told by the first few students that sir (our teacher) asked each student what their 3 favourite chapters were, and then maam (the external) asked questions on those chapters.

It would be ok if they asked me to solve the problems, the problem was that they were asking logistic and formulaic questions like in albergra if a in an integer what would b be. (I know that not right, but something like that, abd based on how wrong the questions i am telling, you can assume how wrong my answers would be)

all of us this 3 chapter rule and started picking out 3 easy chapters. everyone picked probability, and it was so recurring that after 16 students, sir started saying “no no not probability, everyone is saying that” well ofc they were, it was the easiest back then.

I tried so hard to pick out chapters but i just couldn’t not.

My turn was 28th.

When i went in and greeted the teachers, sir immediately pointed to me and told maam, “she is one of the most intelligent students of the class, her dad is a math professor (yes he is) and her brother was also very intelligent (yes he is)”

But i was not math intelligent, sure i understood concepts but my viva skills were subpar.

to this maam immediately said, “ouh so we can ask her anything then”

i gulped.

Sir then asked me, “comeon beta, what three chapters have you prepared?”

i said “sir, you can ask me anything” what i meant was, “it doesn’t matter, i know nothing” But sir heard somehow “it doesn’t matter, i know everything”

So he said, “no no, acha whats one chapter that you really like”

and i said “i like probability”

He asked me five easiest questions and I was the only one to score 20/20 in internal marking in maths.

It was hilarious and at the same time a grace, and a story i never tire of telling.