Students get back IIT-JEE question papers

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, April 8, 2007
For the first time ever, students who had appeared for the IIT-JEE competitive exam got back their answer sheets.
This was done to bring more transparency in the examination system and help students increase their chances of getting into IITs without the help of coaching centres.
From this year onwards, students will get only two chances for appearing in the IIT-JEE exam — the year of taking the higher secondary exam and — the year immediately afterwards. Moreover, only students getting 60 per cent and above in their Class XII exams would be eligible to take the test. “By giving away the question papers it will help freshers and second-timers to better their chances of cracking the exam the next time around,” said A.K. Ghosh, chairman of IIT-JEE at IIT Kharagpur.
This years’ IIT-JEE also saw a change in format. Instead of three papers on Physics, Chemistry and Maths, each of two hours duration, this time only two exams of 3-hour duration were held combining all the 3 subjects. Earlier, students had to tick the correct answer on the question paper itself, which had to be submitted. This year, students were also provided with an Objective Response Sheet (ORS), which they had to submit after marking the correct answers.
The question paper will also be uploaded at the IIT-JEE website along with model answers within a few days. This will ensure that the students can immediately find out how they could have fared in the exam. “Since we did not give back the question papers earlier, the mushrooming coaching centres used to cash in by selling students question papers, often of a dubious nature. From now on, students will have real question papers based on which they can prepare for the IIT-JEE. This is an attempt to curb the proliferation of coaching centres and help encourage students to prepare for themselves. Besides, it will also increase the transparency in the exam system,” said S.K. Dubey, director of IIT-Kharagpur.
The results of IIT-JEE are due on June 1 and counselling was scheduled to start from June 18 but the result may be delayed due to the stay order on OBC quota issued by the Supreme Court.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com