Evans is a clever criminal who has escaped from prison three times, earning him the nickname "Evans the Break." He studies German in prison and convinces officials to let him take the O-Level exam in his cell. On the day of the exam, Evans impersonates the invigilator after cutting his hair and wearing the invigilator's clothes under his hat. When the real invigilator arrives, Evans knocks him out and escapes by impersonating him. Evans is later tracked to a hotel but manages to escape again with help from his friends.

1. Evans Tries An O-Level
- Colin Dexter

2. Introduction
• ‘Evans Tries an O –Level’ is a story
of a criminal named Evans.
• In this story, Colin Dexter, shows
how an individual is able to shake
the entire police department with
his cleverness and ingenuity.

3. Evans The Break!
• Evans has escaped from the prison
three times. That is why, he is called
‘Evans the Break’ by the police officials.
• The way he plans his escape for the
fourth time with the help of his friends
outside the prison earns for him our
secret admiration for his cleverness.

4. Evans….
• A criminal – in Oxford prison – very
clever
• Study German- evening classes started
• Only one student – Jail authorities
arranged a teacher from a technical
college – Later known as original
teacher but one of Evans’ friends.

5. Evans wants to take O-level test
• Evans –keen to acquire academic
qualification-O-Level test in German
• The Governor conceded to his request -
Arranged with the Examinations Board to
hold in the Examination in Evans cell.
• A parson from St. Mary Church to be the
invigilator

6. The Governor takes precautions
• Fears that Evans may try to escape.
• Jackson , a senior prison Officer to search
Evans cell.
• Nothing found –spent 2 hrs – removed
nail scissors and file.
• Another Prison officer to stay inside the
cell till the examination.
• Set microphone.

7. Jackson and Stephens visit Evans
• Half an hour before the examination-
Jackson and Stephens visited Evans’
cell
• Evans was given a blade to shave
himself
• Stephen takes the blade after the
shave

8. Evans hat….
• Evans wore a filthy hat
• Refused to remove it – Considered
lucky hat - Jackson allowed him to
wear it
• Actually he had cut his long hair to
impersonate the invigilator
• If Hat would be removed – secret
would be revealed

9. Arrival of the invigilator….
• Invigilator- Reverend Stuart
Mc Leery- a parson- lived
alone in his flat in Board Street
• At 8.45 a.m –left-arrived at the gate
prison- led to Evans cell
• Introduced to Evans

10. Invigilator –Mc Leery investigated
• The Governor suspected the Invigilator-
Rang up to Mr. Jackson
• Mr. Jackson checked – any weapon was
there, suitcase, but nothing was there
• Mc Leery had a small semi inflated
rubber ring -Explained – suffered from
hemorrhoids.

11. Secret of Rubber Ring-
• Actually the rubber ring contained
pig’s blood
• Later used to pretend that the
invigilator was wounded to fool the
jailers
• The real Mc Leery was tied and
gagged in his flat

12. Examination started
• Evans instructed to write the index
number- 313 and his centre number
271
• Jailer Stephen was to be inside the
cell but Evans asks him to stay out
• Stephen keenly watches through
peep hole

13. Correction in the question paper
• 9.40 A.M. – the Governor – call
about error in the question paper
• Jackson – informed – conveyed to
the Invigilator
• “The Golden Lion”
• A hint to Evans – a hoax call

14. Request for a prison van
• The Governor received another call –
from the Magistrate – a prison van
and two prison officials for a remand
case
• A hoax call – Evans’ friends used it at
the end.

15. Stephens keeps his watch…
• Stephens is very alert
• Mc Leery always reading newspaper
with his finger hooked on the back of
his collar.
• Evans sat with his pen between his
teeth
• Evans draped a blanket around him

16. A call for Stephens…
• Three minutes before Exam – a call
for Stephens
• To accompany Mc Leery to the gate
• And check Evans cell properly –
locked
• A hoax call - Governor

17. Mc Leery is wounded
• Stephens accompanied Mc Leery to
the prison gate
• On return found Mc Leery in Evans
seat- blood trickling down from head
• He thought it might be Evans – but
not
• Called Jackson

18. Mc Leery escorts to arrest Evans
• Detective Superintendent Carter
arrives
• Mc Leery say he is alright and knows
where Evans has gone
• Governor send both of them

19. Governor angry….
• •Evans had kept a parsons
dress in the cell – not noticed
by both Stephens and Jackson
•Behind the Question paper
instructions for Evans to
escape was there- Governor
sure to arrest Evans

20. Evans personating Mc Leery escapes
• Carter – Governor – Mc Leery had
spotted Evans in a car – Elsfiedway in
a car.
• Chased the car – disappeared at
Headington round about.

21. Mc Leery in Hospital
• Mc Leery went to the
Examination Offices and
appeared very ill
• Called Radcliffee Hospital for an
ambulance.
• Governor rang up and found that
he was not there.

22. Real Mc Leery
• Two Police men called on
Mc Leery and reached his flat
• Evans’ friend tied him and Evans
has impersonated and escaped
from the Examination hall
through the ambulance.

23. Evans traced in his hotel room
• Evans was happy in the Hotel-
shocked to find the Governor
• Governor traced the Hotel
Golden Lion and the index
number and centre number
referred to Chipping Norton in
Ordinance Survey Map

24. Evans confesses
• Evans appreciates the Governor’s
intelligence.
• Evans reveals all the facts of the
game he had played.
• His friends had helped him.

25. Evans is arrested
• The Governor and Evans come to the
Hotel Lobby
• The Receptionist says that the Prison
officials are waiting with the Prison
van
• Evans is handcuffed

26. Evans released!!!
• The Governor is once again deceived.
• The prison officials unlocked the
handcuff .
• Prison officials were none other than
his friends who had asked for the
Prison Van.
• They drove to Newbury.
• Evans escaped for the fourth time.

27. Thank You!