Punjab PSEB Sr. Sec. NSQF Media (Roto Artist) exam-day guide
Punjab PSEB Sr. Sec. NSQF Media (Roto Artist) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admit card / hall ticket printout
Carry at least two printed copies. Verify that your name, roll number, subject (Media / Roto Artist) and exam centre match your school records. If you have not received it, contact your school NSQF coordinator immediately - do not assume it will be issued on the day.
School ID card plus one photo ID
Bring your school identity card and, if available, one government photo ID (Aadhaar, etc.). Carry a few recent passport-size photographs in case the centre needs one for the attendance sheet. Confirm the exact accepted ID list with the provider.
PSEB registration / roll number details
Write your roll number and subject code on a small slip kept in your pocket, not only on the admit card, so you can fill forms quickly if the card is misplaced.
Stationery for the theory and planning portion
Blue/black ballpoint pens (two or three), pencil, eraser, sharpener and a ruler. Keep them in a transparent pouch if your centre requires it - confirm the pouch rule with the provider.
Practical work materials allowed by the centre
If your practical involves drawing sheets, tracing paper, or a rough storyboard/thumbnail pad, bring them clean and unmarked. Ask your instructor in advance exactly which materials the centre permits, since rules differ by centre.
No personal storage in the lab
Most computer labs do not allow bags, phones or smart watches at the workstation. Plan for a safe place to leave them, and expect to switch off and submit any phone before entering.
Practise the software you will be tested on
Know the standard roto tools in the software taught in your course (for example roto spline/bezier shape tools, motion blur, feather, and onion-skin or frame-by-frame viewing). Do not rely on shortcuts you have not used on that specific version.
Rehearse a full roto task under time pressure
In the last week, complete a timed practice: import a short clip, roto a moving subject over several frames, check the matte, and export. Aim to finish with 10–15 minutes spare for saving and checking.
File naming and save discipline plan
Decide a simple naming convention (roll number + task + version) and save incrementally. Many practical marks are lost to unsaved or wrongly named work rather than to poor technique.
Reach the centre early
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time to allow for ID checks and seating. Confirm the reporting time and centre address with your school; do not guess it.
Read the practical instructions fully before starting
Note the required output format, frame range, resolution and export path. Ask the invigilator only procedural questions - not creative or technical hints.
Confirm centre-specific rules with the provider
Items such as water bottles, calculators, transparent pouches, late entry and break policy vary by centre. Verify each with your school coordinator or the board/provider before the exam day.
Plan the day
Re-read the practical syllabus and mark the exact skills being tested: shape creation and editing, tracking a moving subject, feather/motion blur, matte checking and export. Make a one-page checklist of the tools you will use and the order you will use them in.
Do one full timed mock practical on the same software version you expect in the lab. Time each stage (setup, roto, refinement, export) and note where you lose time. Fix the slowest stage with two or three short drills.
Check your admit card details and centre address. Confirm travel time and, if needed, arrange transport. Sleep schedule should already be shifting toward the exam start time.
Prepare and pack your stationery pouch, ID cards, admit card copies and permitted materials. Keep everything in one bag so nothing is hunted for on the morning.
Do a light revision only: tool names, keyboard shortcuts you actually use, export settings and file-naming convention. Avoid learning new software features now - they rarely help and can cause confusion.
Confirm the reporting time and any last instructions from your school coordinator. Charge nothing that needs charging (phones are usually not allowed), and set two alarms.
Eat a proper meal, carry water if permitted, and leave with enough margin to arrive early. Re-check that admit card, ID and stationery pouch are in the bag before leaving.
Attend the attendance and ID check, note your seat/workstation number, and listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions on saving, exporting and submitting files.
Read the full question paper before touching the keyboard. Identify the deliverables, the frame range and the marking weights if given. Sketch a short plan on rough paper if allowed.
Work in stages: set up the project correctly, build the roto shapes, refine edges and motion, then check playback frame by frame. Save after each stage with your naming convention.
Stop adding detail. Save, export to the required format and location, verify the file opens, and confirm your roll number is on the file name and answer sheet as instructed.
Confirm with the invigilator that your file has been received and your attendance is marked. Do not delete your local copy until you have left the centre.
Rules to check
Carry your admit card and photo ID at all times and keep them on your desk for verification. Candidates without valid identification may not be allowed to sit the practical - confirm the exact ID requirement with the provider in advance.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, login, saving and submission. If a workstation or software fails, raise your hand immediately and ask the invigilator to record the issue; do not try to fix lab hardware yourself.
Do not use phones, smart watches, or any unauthorised storage device during the test. Keep them switched off and stored as directed before entering the lab.
Do not communicate with other candidates or share files, screens or answers. Practical work must be your own, and copying another candidate's project is treated as unfair means.
Ask only procedural questions (file location, time remaining, submission method). Do not ask the invigilator for technical or creative help with the task itself.
Breaks and washroom permission are usually at the invigilator's discretion; ask by raising your hand and expect to be escorted. Confirm the centre's break policy with the provider before the exam.
Submit your work in the required format and location, with the required file name, before time is called. Work left unsaved or in the wrong folder may not be assessed.
Scoring is done against the practical marking scheme for the Roto Artist trade, covering accuracy of the matte, edge quality, motion consistency and correct output. Confirm the exact marking scheme and pass criteria with your school or the provider rather than relying on hearsay.