More than 41,600 students took SSLC examinations in 157 examination centres in Coimbatore on the first day on Thursday.

Students found the first paper i.e., Tamil I to be slightly tougher and for the first time, the SSLC examinations were conducted in the afternoon from 2.15 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.

Parents said that examinations in the afternoon caused hardship to students as the mercury levels were soaring. However, a section of the parents said that the students used the forenoon for last-minute preparations.

Official machinery pointed out that the objective of having the examinations in the afternoon was to finish it well ahead of the Lok Sabha elections on April 18. Besides, most of the schools will be polling centres.

The examinations took place in 34 centres in Pollachi education district, which had 235 private and 6,304 candidates from schools, Coimbatore education district had 57 centres; 866 private candidates and 15,181 students from schools; Perur education district had 29 centres, 248 private candidates and 9,438 applicants from schools; and Sircar Samakulam had 36 centres and 248 private candidates, besides 9,775 school candidates.

A total of 300 flying squads were on the job to prevent malpractices in the examination halls and more than 3,800 staff and teachers were appointed as invigilators and route squads.