And with an online LSAT postponed to 14 June, can the CLAT still hit its offline date of 21 June?
Scoop
Friday, 08 May 2020 01:34Pre-law studentAn estimated 6 minute read...
Can a competitive law entrance exam for thousands be effectively held online?
The LSAT-India exam, which is the official admissions test to 10 Indian law schools, will be held entirely online this year, marking a first for Indian law school admissions.
The test, which was set up by the US-based Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and is perhaps most well-known for having been exclusively used by JGLS Sonepat since its founding - has been postponed from the already-once-postponed date of 7 June for an offline exam, to 14 June for the 100% online test.
The end of disruptions caused by Covid is not clearly in sight, so from that perspective the move to online makes sense.
But it’s also not without its risks.
Yusuf Abdul-Kareem, the US-based vice president of emerging markets and business intelligence at LSAC, had told us in late March 2020, before the first postponement of both the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and the LSAT-India, that the body was looking at “contingency plans”, which “in this particular case means, we would postpone the exam and move it to a different date, or explore a different mode of delivery”.
Both contingencies have now clearly kicked in.
Safety first?
According to the announcement by LSAC, the “move from a paper and pencil test to an online administration will enable candidates to take the test from the safety and convenience of their homes or a location of their choice, and continue their goal of pursuing legal education despite necessary public health restrictions on travel and public gathering”.
Of course, one of the major difficulties with online exams is how one can guarantee the sanctity of a competitive exam that can very much be a zero-sum game; particularly, how can you ideally eliminate cheating despite students being able to sit the exams at home?
According to LSAC’s statement:
LSAC will implement a rigorous data forensics programme to ensure the integrity of the remotely proctored test. The remotely proctored online LSAT—India will require candidates to complete a virtual check-in process, which includes enhanced identification and authentication procedures.
After successful identity validation, the candidate will be approved to take the test using a secured browser. Every candidate’s test will be proctored remotely using AI-assisted technology and the candidate’s entire examination will be recorded via the computer’s web camera.
If misconduct of any kind is detected, then the exam will be invalidated.
Abdul-Kareem told us in March that so-called remote proctoring of exams - usually done with a human invigilator watching the candidate sitting the online exam via webcam - had become relatively commonplace in the US, and was often administered by proctoring software and solutions.
Multinational professional testing and exam giant Pearson Vue, which has been administering the LSAT-India, was one such company, and it too will be responsible for the proctoring solution.
“By and large the way it works,” he said, “is you have a proctor, who is basically monitoring the person who is sitting for the exam, through their camera.”
“It’s definitely a challenge,” he had said, but added: “I would say, given the circumstances we are in right now, every testing organisation is exploring remote proctoring.”
However, Abdul-Kareem also said that the system to be used for the upcoming online LSAT-India, would consist of an artificial intelligence (AI) in the “first layer”, with a human being responsible only afterwards for reviewing “suspicious activity”.
It’s impossible to say whether such a system will be 100% foolproof, but in the circumstances it may be the best one can get.
Update 12:38: Prof Raj Kumar, JGU founding vice chancellor (VC) and JGLS dean, said when asked about the risk of cheating or otherwise gaming online proctoring methods: “Both LSAC and Pearson Vue are reputed organisations in the world and they are experts in this. And they are i’m sure conscious of the need to ensuring transparency and integrity in the examination process.”
“In India it might sound very novelty,” he added, “but people have done this all over the world. For all the online courses that happen around the world, there are actually millions of students from the top universities that do that [remote proctoring examinations].”
But won’t the really determined find a way to beat the system? “I believe it’s too early to pass judgement, because physical examinations have their own challenges too,” responded Kumar. “And no one can say that in physical examinations - [for example, in a] multiple choice model - the vulnerability is much less than in a remote proctoring model.”
Access both physical and social
As with any online exams there will also be questions surrounding access for those who may not have stable internet connections, electricity supply or possibly not even available for us computers or laptops with webcams or potentially required specs (though in Covid-19 times, access will prove to be an issue also for physical exams, no doubt).
Update 12:38: Regarding potential issues of access, Kumar said: “The good news is that today is 8th of May: we have nearly 40 days for LSAC, Pearson Vue and the other partner schools, particularly Jindal, to look into some of these issues.
“That is, how will it happen, how do we make it more accessible, how do we ensure integrity of the process, how do we create possibilities? All those things will be considered in the next 40 days.”
Last year, the LSAT-India has had its “biggest year” with 8,300 test takers, said Abdul-Kareem. In March he had said that LSAC was aiming to hit 10,000 this year, though he admitted that with “Coronavirus being what it is - we are finding it somewhat challenging”.
This year, besides JGLS taking 600 students via LSAT-India, the so-called LSAC Global Law Alliance Members also include the comparatively smaller schools of law from Jagral Lakecity University (JLU), IFIM, Vijaybhoomi, SVKM’s NMIMS, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Law, MIT-World Peace University Pune and UPES, in addition three others that also accept LSAT-India scores.
Each of the above will at least in part be accepting LSAT-India scores, but some might also sometimes be accepting scores of other competitive exams for its admissions.
What of CLAT?
LSAT’s move to online raises questions for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is many times larger than the LSAT-India and is currently scheduled for 21 June after its second postponement.
Even holding the CLAT offline in late June, just over a month away, may eventually prove to be a struggle, considering that an definitive end to lockdowns all over the country is not clearly in sight right now.
Update 12:38: Kumar commented: “It is unlikely that a physical entrance examination is possible for the next several months. And hence online AI-enabled remote proctored exam will be the only option available for law aspirants in the country.”
“And I will even say, this model deserves serious consideration for both CLAT and AILET [NLU Delhi’s separate admissions test],” he added.
However, despite the CLAT just about becoming a bit more consistently managed year-on-year by a permanent CLAT consortium of NLUs, it’s not clear whether those national law university (NLU) vice chancellors (VCs) that make up the consortium would have the appetite for experimenting online testing solutions or whether an easier solution would be to potentially continue delaying the CLAT until Covid has more definitely receded.
One issue is, that no one really knows how long that will be right now.
Update 12:38: “Necessity is the mother of invention,” noted Kumar. “Today we are in a situation where the uncertainty imposed on us by Covid-19 has made an examination of the kind we are all used to - where people are sitting next to each other, with or without masks - is going to create a greater threat to safety and well-being.”
He predicted that the current stage we had reached in Covid-9 meant that, in his opinion “a physical examination” was “impossible”. “At least I am not able to believe that not possible for several months,” he said, though the US and several parts of the world were even seeing such a timescale as conservative. “And that’s one of the reasons [the government’s National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test] NEET was postponed to end of July.
“But I would be skeptical of even that date.”
Full disclosure: LSAT-India has previously been an advertiser on Legally India; JGLS Sonepat has previously and is presently an advertiser on Legally India.
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Jindal students and graduates quality is better than any law school. Ask any law firm partner or advocate who has got a jindal student interned with her. Stop this hate and better yourself.
I have had 5 interns from JGLS so far working under my directions. Two were as good as any NLU student, two somewhat below average, the fifth one didn't bother turning up half the time under many flimsy excuses and was told to discontinue.
It is not. I've got no hate against Jindal students. There are some quite good. But the average student quality so far is considerably lower than that from the top NLUs. Maybe that's because of the huge batch strength, I won't know.
These people are deluded to think a webcam and filling in a form can defeat Indian jugaad. Here are some ways people can cheat:
1. Lots of CLAT coaches register for CLAT every year. If one such person registers, he can share answers with the student through a small chat window. A student can even place a big screen behind his laptop for the chat, so that it appears he is looking at the laptop but actually looking at the screen.
2. Wireless headphone hidden by long hair (will work for girls). The person giving the answer can even simply switch off his webcam. If it's a CLAT coach, doesn't matter if he is disqualified for switching off his webcam.
3.Likewise, the CLAT coach can call a student's mom/dad/brother/sister with the answers and he/she can be hidden from view and whisper the answers. The mom/dad/brother/sister can also work on the paper himself/herself. Also, instead fo whispering the answers they can use a code, such as light tapping on the door. For example, if the answer to 4 is D, then four fast taps, then pause, four slow taps. One can also use a combination of "natural" sounds via audio files, e.g. answer 1 will be door taps, 2 will be a dog barking, 3 will be a bicycle bell, 4 will be tapping on the floor of the room above, 5 will be phone ringing, 6 will be a baby crying, 7 will be a car horn etc,
4. Students in time zones ahead of India will get to do the test first. Someone in Japan, Australia or New Zealand can be paid money to register and finish the test 5 hours before Indians take the test. Then leak the paper. JGLS aspirants can afford to pay good money to them.
I think you are of the impression that JGLS actually cares about who ends up filling their seats. As long as the student can pay the exorbitant fees, that's more than enough.
This year, besides JGLS taking 600 students via LSAT-India, the so-called LSAC Global Law Alliance Members also include the comparatively smaller schools of law from Jagral Lakecity University (JLU), IFIM, Vijaybhoomi, SVKM’s NMIMS, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Law, MIT-World Peace University Pune and UPES, in addition three others that also accept LSAT-India scores.
If JGLS is an Institution of Eminence per GOI and #1 in India per QS, why does it ally with such obscure colleges? Why can't it accept CLAT marks and ally with NLUs? Is it afraid that it will sink from #1 LSAT choice to #10 or #11 CLAT choice?
I have talked to many people including those at NLSIU. Not once have I heard anyone saying that CLAT in anyway is a better exam than LSAT. This is coming from someone who has cleared CLAT twice, albeit only to get mid tier NLUs but with no prep at all.
1. LSAT isn't as difficult as CLAT. 2. No cheating will be practical. There's no GK, that a Google search would help for answers. Plus anyone sitting and comprehending answers for LR/AR/RC would find it difficult to do it in short time and pass it on. It makes sense for LSAT to go online. Not CLAT though.
This should never be allowed as there will be cheating. Even if it is a test for JGLS rich kids, remember that a few scholarships are offered for middle-class children who get high LSAT scores. So it is wrong to say it does not matter.
CLAT better not copy this model. We all know there has been cheating in UP, Bihar and Rajasthan centres. It will be worse online. Remember the year NUALS screwed up??
By and large the way it works,” he said, “is you have a proctor, who is basically monitoring the person who is sitting for the exam, through their camera.”
But what if I mute my microphone and someone off camera verbally says the answers? I can configure my laptop so that the screen is shared with someone in the next room.
It is ironical that people here are criticising LSAT when CLAT paper has been leaked in the past and has been a total disaster all these years. Please see the link to this story and also below.
Dear CLAT, You’ve Been Failing Your Students For The Past 8 Years By A Student in Campus Watch, Careers, Education 23rd May, 2017 A student whose dreams you shattered
In the Corona pandemic situation, Online proctored test is only solution. NMIMS is also doing the same. Symbiosis also has to adopt it. CAT, GMAT are all online exams and successful. My fear for CLAT is they shouldn't end up with using class 12 marks for admission this year.
CAT is not, nor has ever been, conducted in this fashion so that students can take the exam from home. Please do not spread fake news. Holding an exam from supervised test centres where the answers are to be entered using a computer, and this format are as different as chalk and cheese. The fact that all the students would be adjudged on the basis of different questions is also fundamentally problematic.
But what is think is that there are people who are not that financially strong to afford a pc ir say even a good internet connection ... And its hard for them to get it in these disturbed times. Also there are people who are physically challenged so there is a need to think about them too . Also keeping an online exam has high probability of students facing issues for example their weak point and strong points may change or they might have problems solving online papers .... Not to mention LSAT is still in the minor league but what about the majors such as clat ,ailet .... If these papers start happening online there will surely be a different grp of people clearing these papers as opposed to the earlier group . Also keeping papers for high number if students we might se site crash problems .
CLAT is a terrible exam and widely accepted to be so. LSAT is the exam that is used for admission to Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, Columbia Law School, Berkeley Law School, Cornell Law School, Jindal Global Law School and all other prestigious law schools in the world. I believe it is far more superior exam than CLAT. All law schools in India should adopt LSAT immediately, which will actually help improve the quality of legal education in India. The problem with these type of discussions is that people don’t want to accept facts and recognise reality. CLAT is just not worthy of even comparing with LSAT. In fact, even where I am in the USA, please recognise the importance of LSAT as the best available exam for selecting students. All Indian law schools should consider adopted LSAT as the exam for selecting law students! Please read this article in the reputed wire: www.google.com/amp/s/m.thewire.in/article/education/clat-2017-common-law-admission-test/amp
I read LI to be familiar with the issues relating to legal education and legal profession. This debated between CLAT v LSAT in India is very fascinating. But the only problem is that there is no fair competition. LSAT is an international exam with a global reputation and history that dates back to many decades. CLAT has been a consistent disaster and there are too many things out there for people to read. If the LI readers are educated people, which I hope they are, then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that CLAT, AILET or for that matter any other entrance exam to law schools in India are no comparison to LSAT-India. It doesn't matter which Law School you plan to study, the LSAT as an exam is far superior in every aspect.
Please consider reading the following as "IGNORANCE SHOULDN'T BE BLISS:)
EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT CLAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DISASTROUS EXAM AND NO COMPARISON TO A WORLD CLASS LSAT-INDIA
We are pleased to inform you that the upcoming LSAT—India 2020 will be administered online to provide secure and timely testing opportunity for candidates in spite of the Covid-19 lockdown. You will be able to take the test from the safety and convenience of your home at no additional cost, to help you continue to pursue your goal of legal education.
The LSAT—India will be now be conducted from 14th June onwards, instead of 7th June, using an online test delivery system with artificial intelligence-assisted remote proctoring to ensure the integrity and validity of the test. The execution of the online test will be as follows:
After the closure of the registration period, you will receive test appointment details and instructions on how to take the online test. You will also be provided with the opportunity to take a mock test to check the configuration of your testing equipment and to understand the navigation and functionality of taking the online remotely proctored test. On the day of the test, you will be required to complete a virtual check-in process, requiring capturing your photo and that of your government issued photo identification. After successful identification, you will be approved to take the test using a secured browser. The test will be proctored remotely using AI-assisted technology and will be recorded via your computer’s web-camera. If misconduct of any kind is detected, then the exam will be invalidated. We will be notifying you about the details of the test in the upcoming weeks. For additional information, we will be providing an FAQ section on our website in the near future. If you have questions about your equipment or about your approved accommodations, please contact us at .
LSAT—India scores are accepted by premier private law schools in India. If you have not yet completed your registration or submitted your payment for the LSAT—India, reserve your spot now.
In our constant endeavour to promote quality, access and equity in legal education, we have free sample papers available on the website. Please note that we have suspended the sale of LSAT India Bundle and study material due to the current state of lockdown. In case you want to purchase study material at a later time please write to us at .
You may also get information regarding the various scholarships being offered by LSAC to students keen to pursue legal education.
I think this will work. Two students won't get the same question papers and also serial number may be different. When all the questions are analytical reasoning, logical reasoning and reading comprehension - three subjects of exam and there is no GK, cheating will be too difficult.
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1. Lots of CLAT coaches register for CLAT every year. If one such person registers, he can share answers with the student through a small chat window. A student can even place a big screen behind his laptop for the chat, so that it appears he is looking at the laptop but actually looking at the screen.
2. Wireless headphone hidden by long hair (will work for girls). The person giving the answer can even simply switch off his webcam. If it's a CLAT coach, doesn't matter if he is disqualified for switching off his webcam.
3.Likewise, the CLAT coach can call a student's mom/dad/brother/sister with the answers and he/she can be hidden from view and whisper the answers. The mom/dad/brother/sister can also work on the paper himself/herself. Also, instead fo whispering the answers they can use a code, such as light tapping on the door. For example, if the answer to 4 is D, then four fast taps, then pause, four slow taps. One can also use a combination of "natural" sounds via audio files, e.g. answer 1 will be door taps, 2 will be a dog barking, 3 will be a bicycle bell, 4 will be tapping on the floor of the room above, 5 will be phone ringing, 6 will be a baby crying, 7 will be a car horn etc,
4. Students in time zones ahead of India will get to do the test first. Someone in Japan, Australia or New Zealand can be paid money to register and finish the test 5 hours before Indians take the test. Then leak the paper. JGLS aspirants can afford to pay good money to them.
2. No cheating will be practical. There's no GK, that a Google search would help for answers. Plus anyone sitting and comprehending answers for LR/AR/RC would find it difficult to do it in short time and pass it on.
It makes sense for LSAT to go online. Not CLAT though.
Please see the link to this story
www.youthkiawaaz.com/2017/05/how-clat-has-failed-its-students/
Dear CLAT, You’ve Been Failing Your Students For The Past 8 Years
By A Student in Campus Watch, Careers, Education
23rd May, 2017
A student whose dreams you shattered
Not to mention LSAT is still in the minor league but what about the majors such as clat ,ailet .... If these papers start happening online there will surely be a different grp of people clearing these papers as opposed to the earlier group . Also keeping papers for high number if students we might se site crash problems .
Please read this article in the reputed wire:
www.google.com/amp/s/m.thewire.in/article/education/clat-2017-common-law-admission-test/amp
CLAT has been a consistent disaster and there are too many things out there for people to read. If the LI readers are educated people, which I hope they are, then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that CLAT, AILET or for that matter any other entrance exam to law schools in India are no comparison to LSAT-India. It doesn't matter which Law School you plan to study, the LSAT as an exam is far superior in every aspect.
Please consider reading the following as "IGNORANCE SHOULDN'T BE BLISS:)
EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT CLAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DISASTROUS EXAM AND NO COMPARISON TO A WORLD CLASS LSAT-INDIA
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/clat-2018-report-what-happened-during-and-after-the-examination/
www.lawctopus.com/clat-2018-conduct-mismanaged/
www.legallyindia.com/home/clat-2017-with-13-confirmed-errors-and-more-00011130-8518
blog.ipleaders.in/clat-mismanagement/
www.youthkiawaaz.com/2017/05/how-clat-has-failed-its-students/
www.hindustantimes.com/education/unpacking-clat-2019-the-10yearchallenge-check-past-10-years-trends-in-difficulty-level/story-zz8Z5Aa2wafyc1WpTizM8H.html
www.livemint.com/Politics/lr3dzlAiKQchbfYxaJqVbP/CLAT-A-filter-that-needs-replacing.html
www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/law-exam-postponed-fearing-paper-leak-47392-2009-05-13
www.barandbench.com/columns/clat-2018-zoheb-hossain-everything-wrong
www.legallyindia.com/pre-law/clat-needs-to-be-reformed-and-marketed-argues-expert-as-botched-nlu-delhi-entrance-test-grows-20120509-2801
Dear ______
We are pleased to inform you that the upcoming LSAT—India 2020 will be administered online to provide secure and timely testing opportunity for candidates in spite of the Covid-19 lockdown. You will be able to take the test from the safety and convenience of your home at no additional cost, to help you continue to pursue your goal of legal education.
The LSAT—India will be now be conducted from 14th June onwards, instead of 7th June, using an online test delivery system with artificial intelligence-assisted remote proctoring to ensure the integrity and validity of the test. The execution of the online test will be as follows:
After the closure of the registration period, you will receive test appointment details and instructions on how to take the online test.
You will also be provided with the opportunity to take a mock test to check the configuration of your testing equipment and to understand the navigation and functionality of taking the online remotely proctored test.
On the day of the test, you will be required to complete a virtual check-in process, requiring capturing your photo and that of your government issued photo identification.
After successful identification, you will be approved to take the test using a secured browser.
The test will be proctored remotely using AI-assisted technology and will be recorded via your computer’s web-camera. If misconduct of any kind is detected, then the exam will be invalidated.
We will be notifying you about the details of the test in the upcoming weeks. For additional information, we will be providing an FAQ section on our website in the near future. If you have questions about your equipment or about your approved accommodations, please contact us at .
LSAT—India scores are accepted by premier private law schools in India. If you have not yet completed your registration or submitted your payment for the LSAT—India, reserve your spot now.
In our constant endeavour to promote quality, access and equity in legal education, we have free sample papers available on the website. Please note that we have suspended the sale of LSAT India Bundle and study material due to the current state of lockdown. In case you want to purchase study material at a later time please write to us at .
You may also get information regarding the various scholarships being offered by LSAC to students keen to pursue legal education.
All the best!
Regards,
Discover Law India Team
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