JOIN USThe most competitive examination for engineering students in the country — JEE (Advanced) — will no longer be conducted in the pen and paper format. Recently, the Joint Admission Board (JAB) decided to change its mode to online. This year, 18 bonus marks were given away to all the students who took the exam due to errors in the question paper. The decision was, thus, finalised to eliminate printing errors altogether, and ensure easier evaluation.
The new format will save students a lot of time. But while the change sounds great on paper, there is one question which has been left unanswered. What about the students who aren’t tech-savvy
and who haven’t been able to embrace technology as fast as their counterparts in bigger cities and towns?
While the aim of the government is to increase Internet penetration and encourage the digital consumption of education, the offline to online transition can be nerve-racking for students residing in rural areas. The JEE (Main) exam was conducted in both online and offline modes, but only 10% of the 13.5 lakh students opted for the former. The figure clearly highlights which mode the students are most comfortable with. Here’s a look at some of the changes, its pros and cons and how one can make the transition easier.
Pros
Re-edit answers multiple times: In the offline mode, candidates need to colour the circle on the OMR sheet. If a candidate wants to change the answer, then she will have to erase it before colouring the next probable option. The online mode allows a candidate to re-edit the answers multiple times in the easiest manner possible.
Ready status of the exam: In the offline mode, the candidate has to keep a tab on the questions left unanswered. The online mode will have an answer panel which will show both the number of questions attempted and left unanswered — each marked in different colour schemes.
Saves a lot of time: The online mode of examination eliminates the need of colouring the answer option on the OMR sheet. Students can save time and utilise it to apply themselves better while answering the questions instead.
Cons
Technical glitches: It is likely for students to face some technical issues, as 2018 will be the first year that the exam will go completely online. Technical glitches can affect their overall scores as they may lose out on time.
Tricky procedure: Students need to ensure that they save the changes once they have ticked an answer. Failing to do so may result in a loss of marks. The markings may not get saved automatically.
Taking home the question paper: The offline exam ensured that students had the question paper with them after the exam. In the online mode, no question paper will be available for students to re-evaluate their scores, etc.
Doing well
While several students might face difficulties when attempting the exam online, only regular practice can ensure that students pick up pace. The following are a few tips for students to sail through the final stage of the examination with ease:
Practice online: Use an e-learning app to practice in a similar setting as the final exam. More practice will help in diminishing the chances of mistakes due to inexperience.
Know the test format: Learn the new test format way before you start with the preparations for JEE (Advanced).
Plan your time: This might be the first time that you’re appearing for an exam online. Therefore, while attempting mock tests, limit your time and check how many minutes you are spending on each question.
Technical glitches: Do not panic if you experience any technical glitches. Contact your instructor immediately, and inform him of the problem you are facing.
Check and save your work: Spare some time to check your answers, and always remember to save your work before you move on to the next section.
Check your system: In order to avoid last-minute problems, check whether your system is functioning properly before you start with the exam.
(The author is with VP Educational Content, Toppr.com)