Students stump IIT JEE-13, examiners From, Subject Priority From Next Year 2013

Students stump IIT JEE-13, examiners From, Subject Priority From Next Year 2013

The answer booklets of the IIT joint entrance exam (advanced) this year have thrown up a worrisome trend: the maximum questions unanswered were from mathematics.

    Perhaps as a consequence, the highest overall score for JEE-2013 stood at 332 of 360. At 92.2%, it is quite a slide from last year’s 96%. The lowest mark scored this year is minus 70.

    With quantitative skills — involving using or manipulating numbers; the ability to reason using numbers — an absolute essential in the country’s top tech schools, there is a feeling that math should be accorded priority in the testing process. Now, the JEE (advanced) comprises of two papers with questions from physics, chemistry and math, in that order.

    “Considering the fact that quantitative skills are an extremely important component of the testing process, it is proposed to change this order to mathematics, followed by physics and then chemistry,” said the IIT-JEE (advanced) 2013 report.

    “We have noticed that most students start attempting the paper with chemistry or physics. We have suggested that mathematics be given more importance,” said JEE-2013 convener H C Gupta.

    An analysis of the score card this year shows that besides the fall in the

highest overall score, only 23 students managed over 300 while 326 scored over 250. “The competition thickens as one travels down along the rank list,” said an IIT-JEE chairman.

    Another startling trend to emerge from JEE (advanced) 2013 was that fewer candidates attempted the exam for the first time. About 69.6% freshers took the test as compared to 80% in JEE-2012.

    About 30-45% students allotted seats at the older IITs were successful on their second attempt. At IIT-Roorkee, 44.6% of the candidates cracked the JEE on second attempt. That percentage stood at 32.7 at IIT-Delhi, 29.6 at IIT-Bombay and 38.6 at IIT-Kanpur. Over half the students allotted seat in IIT-Jodhpur and ISM Dhanbad were also trying their hand the second time.

    “This could be due to the choice of branches of the candidates,” said JEE-2013 convener Gupta.

    Data till 2007 shows about 10% of the total aspirants were taking the JEE for the third time (or more). But with more students taking the test seriously, JEE-2006 saw the share fall as 43.5% candidates qualified in their first try, as compared to JEE-2005 in which only 28.49% got through the first time around. While these pieces of information may not say anything about the quality of students making it to the IITs, it shows that the majority are no longer taking the exam as another jolly ride.