Good news for all NEET, JEE aspirants: Students can appear twice a year and best score to be considered for admission

In a good news for aspirants appearing for National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and JEE (Mains), under the revised schedule, the candidates can now appear for the exam twice a year and the best score will be considered for admission.

Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday announced that the National Testing Agency would start conducting NEET, JEE (Mains) and NET entrance examinations from the upcoming academic session. The examinations are currently being organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Addressing a press conference, Javadekar said the National Eligibility Test (NET) would be conducted in December, the JEE (Mains) would be conducted in January and April, and NEET would be held in February and May.

In a good news for aspirants appearing for National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and JEE (Mains), under the revised schedule, the candidates can now appear for the exam twice a year and the best score will be considered for admission.

The Union minister added that all these exams would be computer-based and that students can practice at home or at authorised computer centres free of cost. The details of such centres would be announced soon.

Javadekar said the syllabus, question format, language and fees won't change. Each exam will be conducted on four to five dates.

He assured that the format would be immune to cheating and leaks since it’s computer-based. Reminded that the Class 10 exams, too, were computer-based but plagued by cheating scandals, Javadekar said the NTA module doesn’t allow screen-sharing.

“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,” a press release by the ministry said.

“NTA will establish a network of test practice centres for students of rural areas so that everyone will 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 3rd week of August. Any student can use the facility free of charge,” it added.

Here are the highlights of the announcement:

1. The National Eligibility Test (NET) would be conducted in December, the JEE (Mains) would be conducted in January and April, and NEET would be held in February and May.

2. All these exams would be computer-based and that students can practice at home or at authorised computer centres free of cost.

3. NTA will establish a network of test practice centres for students of rural areas so that everyone will have an opportunity to practice before the exam.

4. Schools/engineering colleges with computer centres would be identified and kept open on Saturday/Sunday starting from 3rd week of August. Any student can use the facility free of charge.

5. Each exam will be conducted on four to five dates.

6. Syllabus, question format, language and fees won't change.

7. Candidates can also appear for JEE (Mains) twice or just once.

8. The examinations will be conducted in online (computer based) mode only, beginning from next exam, which is UGC-NET.

9. These exams will use highly secured IT software and encryption to ensure delivery of tests just in time. This will ensure no leakages and other malpractices.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) was approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2017 as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.

The agency will hire experts, researchers, statisticians, psychometricians and education specialists to bring 'qualitative difference' in the examination process. Special 'test item writers' will also be on board. The item writers would be trained to ensure that the quality of questions is according to the test design. The experts, statisticians and item writers/subject matter experts are already identified for being inducted into NTA.