These were some of the findings of Educational Initiatives, an organisation started by alumni of IIM Ahmedabad, that has conducted a diagnostic test ‘Asset’ that aims at testing the actual knowledge of a student.

Started around five years back, the test is for students from Classes 3 to 10. The test is essentially conducted in three subjects English, Maths and Science. Social Studies and Hindi are optional subjects. It is prepared on the curriculum of various state boards, CBSE and ICSE and consists of activities, worksheets, experiments and games scientifically designed to strengthen skills.

Vaishali Shah, of Educational Initiatives, says, “We found out that the performance of students on questions based on measurement, estimation, problem solving, general observation and day to day languages is not very good. Instead of acquiring concepts students seem to be learning to handle a limited number of question types. We tried asking the same question in a number of ways to assess their understanding.”