Subjective test proposed for IIT-JEE stage two

The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has recommended changes in its Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced to include a subjective test in the second stage of the exam from next year. Bhavya Dore reports.

The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has recommended changes in its Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced to include a subjective test in the second stage of the exam from next year.

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The changes, which have been in discussion for some time, are part of the process for reforming the exams.

This year’s entry into the IITs will be determined by a two-stage process with a JEE (Main) for all candidates followed by a JEE (Advanced) for the top 1.5 lakh candidates drawn from the first test. Both tests will be based on objective-type multiple-choice questions.

However, a report from a committee comprising IIT officials has recommended that from 2014, the second stage exam be converted from a multiple choice question-based test to a subjective one testing students’ understanding.

The IIT-Bombay senate broadly accepted the report recommending the changes, and made some additional recommendations at a special senate meeting early in March.

For the new format to be implemented, all the IIT senates will have to accept the report, and this may then go before the Joint Admission Board (JAB).

The minutes of the special senate meeting, where the report was discussed, are yet to be officially circulated, but IIT-B director Devang Khakhar confirmed the development.