Hyderabad: The CEP has suggested setting up of a National Testing Service (NTS) which will hold an online aptitude test to filter candidates to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
This preliminary exam will test critical thinking and scientific aptitude and is to discourage dependence on coaching. IITs themselves have been asked to offer online courses to help students prepare for the National Testing Service and JEE exams.
The JEE though will be similar to the current JEE Advanced with questions in Physics, Chemistry and Maths. About four lakh students will be selected from those who write the NTS exam to appear for the JEE.
The committee also recommended that changes be made to the school education system so students inculcate scientific aptitude. And from the JEE, 40,000 ranks have been recommended to be issued who can then participate in IITs and NITs joint counselling.
However, questions still remain over the National Testing Service. Dr P. Ananda Raman, Fiitjee Hyderabad Mentor-Director, said, “I feel this is a welcome step. It is a good method. But the only concern is about grading of the paper and difficulty level because they want to hold the preliminary NTS exam twice a year. How will they say the difficulty level was the same for both tests?”
The committee also recommended scrapping of 40 per cent weightage in JEE Main. But the government decided not to implement the suggestion owing to paucity of time. The Centre will take suggestions from all stakeholders before implementing the committee recommendations.
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