Excel in class XII boards to realize your IIT dream

The latest update on the IITs vs the Education Ministry impasse is that there is now a consensus between the two. The education ministry proposed a selection criterion wherein your class XII Board exam results can either make or break your dreams of making into the prestigious IITs. Yes, you now have to be among the top 20% of the rankers in your respective boards to be able to make it to the premier institute.

The new selection criterion that comprises a common entrance test to be conducted at two levels – Main and Advanced – has received a positive response from the IIT chiefs. You now have to appear for only one exam to determine your future in the field of engineering. The Main exam, to be held at least a month before the Advanced level will be open to all. You have to be among the top 1.5 lakh rankers to be eligible to sit for the Advanced exam. The final IIT merit list will be determined on the basis of the marks you get in the Advanced exam plus your class XII board exam marks. Therefore, you have to do very well at school to realize your IIT dream.
This decision will greatly diminish the deep-rooted dependency that students have on private coaching institutes, who charted out their own syllabus. This parallel tutoring put immense pressure on the already overworked student leading to a situation where the aspirant faced an early burn out. In 2006, the entrance exam pattern was aligned with the syllabus of class XI and XII aiming at lessening the burden. However, the flawed selection system allowed the al coaching industry to capitalize on the existing loop holes. The IITs felt that the coaching institute ‘manufactured’ entrants were gradually lowering the high standards of the premier engineering colleges. The need to filter out the best young minds became imminent.

We at Meritnation along with nationwide educationists, parents and students heave a collective sigh of relief and welcome the fact that the new selection criterion is aimed at an all-round and holistic learning experience needed to do well in the field of engineering and technology, of which the IIT entrance exam is just a stepping stone. This move will help bring together a batch of students who are genuinely interested in making a mark for themselves and contributing something new to the field of engineering and technology.

Since your class XII syllabus deals with most of the basic concepts needed to do well in the exam, we feel that a sound grasp over the concepts in class XI & XII will definitely keep you in good stead.

While the verdict is still not out on whether the Advanced Test will be a subjective test or an objective (MCQ) one, my guess is that it will be a mix of both, as the IITs who though are in favor of a “grilling” subjective test to be able to ‘pick the best out’, the sheer logistical nightmare of evaluating the responses of 1.5 lakh aspirants, might just make it very difficult.

We believe that if the test becomes even partially subjective, you will have to prepare accordingly. This means that only those who have a strong understanding of the concepts will be able to do well in the exam.

Details of the JEE-Advanced will be discussed in a Joint Admission Board meeting to be held in August. Keep watching this space for all the latest news on IITJEE.

Best wishes,
Praveen Tyagi