Govt announces big changes in JEE Mains & NEET Exams: All you need to know

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar announced radical changes in JEE and NEET exam scheduling and mode of giving the test on Saturday. The changes will be implemented from 2019.  

Here are full details: 

Candidates to get two chances in JEE & NEET Exams: 

Very often students rue their luck in a competitive exam. Even the best prepared students may have a bad outing on a given day. Or there may be other unforeseen incidents, which may lead to them performing poorly. Now the government has thrown a lifeline to all aspirants in country's premium examinations. 

 The engineering and medical entrance exams JEE and NEET would now be conducted twice. JEE Mains for the entrance to IIT and other national level engineering colleges will be held twice. NEET, all India Medical Entrance test which has been introduced couple of years ago will be also conducted twice. The best of the two scores will be taken as the final result for candidates. 

Is it compulsory to sit for both exams? 

No, it isn't. Students can opt for writing only one test, clarified Javadekar. 

When will JEE Mains and NEET be held? 

According to Prakash Javadekar, JEE (Mains) would be conducted twice a year, in January and April. NEET (UG) would be conducted in February and May, the minister said.

Will JEE Advanced be also held twice? 

No, it will be held once only. 

Who will be conducting JEE Mains and NEET?

Newly constituted National Testing Agency (NTA) has been assigned the duty of conducting these tests. However, IITs will be still hosting the JEE Advanced exam. 

Will JEE Mains and NEET be held online or offline? 

Both these exams will be held online from now, announced Prakash Javadekar. 

What will be the scoring method? 

The two tests -- JEE (Mains) and NEET -- would be equated using psychometric methods, standardisation techniques and best of the equated scores would be used for the admissions. According to Prakash Javadekar, it would ensure no leakage, and is secure and at par with international norms. 
"The examinations for all candidates will be conducted in computer-based mode only. These examinations will use highly secured IT software and  encryption to ensure delivery of tests just in time. This will ensure no leakages and other malpractices," said Javadekar. 

Is there a change in question pattern, syllabus? 

No, the question pattern will remain the same as before. 

Will the tests be held in all languages as before? 

According to the minister, the candidates can opt to appear in any of the languages which are available. This is particularly a prickly issue about NEET, where many states have alleged that their chances have been hard-done by tough questions. 

Will the candidates get to choose their date of exam? 

Yes, tests would be conducted in multiple sittings and a candidate would have an option of choosing the dates. Scores of different candidates in multiple sittings would also be equated using standardisation techniques.

How can rural candidates get practice for the exam? 

NTA would establish a network of test practice centres for students from rural areas so that everyone would have an opportunity to practice before the exam.
Schools/engineering colleges with computer centres would be identified and kept open on Saturday/Sunday starting from third week of August and any student can use the facility free of charge, he added.

What is the detailed timetable for two JEE(Main) Exam:

The online submission of application forms for JEE (Mains) would start from September 1 and be on till September 30.  The examinations would be held between January 6, 2019 to January 20, 2019 in eight different sittings and candidates can choose any one. The results would be declared in the first week of February 2019.

The online submission of application forms for the second phase of JEE (Mains) would start from second- week of February 2019.  The examinations would be held between April 7, 2019 to April 21, 2019 in eight different sittings and candidates can choose any one. The results would be declared in the first week of May 2019.

What is the detailed timetable for two NEET exam: 

The online submission of application forms for NEET (UG) would start from October 1 and be on till October 31. The examinations would be held between February 3, 2019 to January 17, 2019 in eight different sittings and candidates can choose any one. The results will be declared in the first week of March 2019.

The online submission of application forms for second phase of NEET (UG) would start from second week of March next year. The examinations would be held between May 12, 2019  to May 26,  2019  in eight different sittings and candidates can choose any one. The results would be declared in the first week of June.

Which are the other exams to be conducted by NTA?

Alongside JEE(Mains) and NEET, NTA will be also organising National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT). All these exams too will be held online only. 

The online submission of application forms for NET would start from September 1 and would be on till September 30. 

The examinations would be held between December 2 to December 12 in two shifts per day on Saturdays and Sundays. The results would be declared in the last week of January 2019.

The online submission of application forms for CMAT and GPAT would start from October 22 till December 15. The examinations would be held on January 27 next year and the results would be declared in the first week of February. The Union Cabinet had approved setting up of the NTA to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.

With PTI inputs