The JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Examination Advanced) is an esteemed engineering entrance examination conducted annually in India. It serves as a gateway for admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Initially known as the Indian Institute of Technology - JEE (IIT JEE), the exam has undergone several transformations and reforms over the years. This article explores the significance, history, and structure of the JEE Advanced exam.
Evolution of JEE Advanced Exam
The JEE-Advanced, which commenced in 1961, coincided with the enactment of the IIT Act of the same year. Prior to 1961, students’ admissions to the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur were based on academic results and interviews conducted across the country. From 1955 to 1960, a national examination was conducted to streamline admissions. However, the IIT-JEE emerged as a comprehensive examination to assess candidates' aptitude for engineering courses.
Over the years, the JEE Advanced exam has undergone significant reforms to ensure fairness, diversity, and improved evaluation methods. In 1978, the English paper was excluded from the ranking process, and in 1998, it was discontinued altogether. The examination faced challenges in 1997 when the question papers were leaked in certain regions, leading to the exam being conducted twice.
Between 2000 and 2005, an additional screening test was introduced alongside the main examination to alleviate the pressure on candidates. This secondary test allowed only the top 20,000 candidates to advance to the main examination from a pool of over 450,000 applicants. In 2002, the JEE Advanced registration process and eligibility criteria were reformed. All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) was introduced as an additional exam for admissions into institutions of national importance, apart from the IITs.
Calls for JEE Advanced Exam Reform
In 2005, the Hindu newspaper launched a campaign advocating reforms in the IIT-JEE. The campaign aimed to address the excessive coaching mania and promote gender and socioeconomic diversity in the exam. Two potential solutions were proposed: a common window for the screening test and the AIEEE or a two-tier examination system. The first tier would enable admissions to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and other engineering colleges, while the second tier would serve as the gateway to the IITs.
Responding to the demands for change, the group of directors from all the IITs implemented significant revisions to the examination in September 2005. These revisions were implemented from 2006 onwards, leading to the introduction of a single objective test format. The revised examination required candidates to meet certain eligibility criteria and exam attempt limits. The JEE Advance eligibility criteria include a minimum aggregate score of 60% for general category candidates and 55% for candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories.
Expansion of JEE Advanced Exam
In 2008, the directors and deans of IIT Madras proposed additional revisions to the examination system. They expressed concerns about coaching institutes enabling weaker students to crack the exam while hindering the qualification of female candidates. The proposed changes aimed to incorporate Higher Secondary marks (qualification cutoff) into the admissions process, giving equal weightage to applicants' academic performances.
To extend its reach, the IITs began offering admission tests in Dubai in 2008, attracting a varying number of candidates each year. In 2013, the AIEEE was renamed JEE (Main), and the IIT-JEE became JEE (Advanced). The JEE (Main) served as the screening exam for JEE (Advanced), streamlining the selection process for admission into the IITs.
The JEE Advanced exam has evolved over the years to become a rigorous assessment of students’ aptitude for engineering skills. Through various reforms, it has aimed to promote fairness, diversity, and inclusivity within the admissions process for the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology. The structure of the exam, with its varying question types and marking schemes, challenges candidates' knowledge and problem-solving abilities. Aspiring engineers across the country continue to strive for success in the JEE Advanced exam with the hope of securing admission into one of the esteemed IITs.
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