From next year, some of the major entrance examinations will be conducted not by the CBSE or the UGC but by a new examination body called National Testing Agency (NTA).
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Saturday that the NTA will bring qualitative difference in the examination process by its focus on research and scientific test design using services of experts, researchers, statisticians, psychometrician, and education specialists
Some of the major examinations that will be conducted by this body include JEE (Mains),NEET and NET. The body will also conduct entrance test for management and pharmacy aspirants—CMAT and GPAT.
Examinations for all candidates will be conducted in a computer-based mode only. These examinations will use highly secure IT software and encryption system. All this is expected to eliminates leakages and malpractices.
Going ahead, JEE and NEET will be conducted two times in a year, giving chance to students who may fail to appear in a test due to unwarranted circumstances. Students can appear twice if they wish to. The two tests (each for JEE (Main) & NEET (UG)) will be equated using psychometric methods, standardisation techniques and the best of the equated scores will be used for the admissions.
Syllabus and the pattern of question paper would remain the same and there will be no increase in the exam fees currently being charged. All the tests will be conducted in multiple sittings and a candidate will have an option of dates to choose from.
NTA will establish a network of test practice centres for students of rural areas so that they get an opportunity to practice before exam.
The tests would be set up in a scientific manner with test items developed jointly by subject matter experts and psychometricians. The NTA will conduct UGC NET in December, followed by JEE in January and April.
