NEET not that neat, say candidates
Test evokes mixed response from candidates
The newly introduced National Entrance cum Eligibility Test for Post Graduate courses (NEET-PG) to gain entry into postgraduate medical courses in the country commenced at 33 centres, including Bangalore, on Friday.
The response of Bangalore candidates to the test was, however, not that positive.
The NEET-PG is a national entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) with the aim of centralising all postgraduate medical examinations in the country.
The test will go on until December 6 and it is the first computer-based test as far as common medical entrance tests in the country are concerned. Friday’s test had 240 question of multiple choice and single response type.
Swarup, who has completed his MBBS from Mysore Medical College, was not very happy with the quality of the questions. He believed that they were more factual than contextual. “Of the 240 questions, 220 were such that one had to depend entirely on one’s powers to learn by heart to answer them,” he said.
He had given his All India Medical Entrance test a week ago and his Common Entrance Test (CET) and other such exams last year.
He felt that these exams tested one’s concept and ability to draw conclusions, unlike the new exam. The new test does not have any negative marking system unlike in the CET. Swarup believed that this increased the chance of luck playing a bigger role in passing the exam than skill and ability.
No study material
The format and subjects of the new test had caused anxiety among some students. “In CET, one could get specific coaching and books. I could not get any study materials for this exam.
However, things might improve in the days to come,” said Kavyashree P S, who did her undergraduate studies from Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences.
Ashwini from Devraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, said that the exam was scheduled in a haphazard manner.
“The examinations were held at short notice. We got only two months for preparation”.
Many candidates from other states appeared for the test in Bangalore due to the unavailability of seats in the test centres of their choice.
Vijith and Roger from Jubilee Mission Medical College and Government Medical College in Thrissur, Kerala, appeared for the test only to have a feel of it, so that they can prepare better the next time.
Positive response
Not all are, however, sceptical about the new test. “The questions were short and precise and were of better standard,” said Parvati from Kerala.
Shouaib Ahmed from MVJ Medical College, who will be giving his exams on Saturday, said, “It will make the medical exams more competitive and the number of seats are also bound to increase.”
