When an IIT aspirant starts his preparation for IIT JEE, first thing that he wants to know is what is the exam pattern of IIT JEE? – what...
When an IIT aspirant starts his preparation for IIT JEE, first thing that he wants to know is what is the exam pattern of IIT JEE? – what sort of questions are asked, how many questions of what mark and what duration? Is there negative marking in IIT JEE? This blog post is being made to answer these questions – to give you some ideas on the pattern of IIT JEE exam. This would help IIT JEE 2012 aspirants (as well as for later exams) to know what would be the exam pattern of IIT JEE 2012.
While discussing the pattern of IIT JEE, let me tell you that format of IIT JEE is changed very frequently so as to reduce the predictability of the exam pattern. This is done by JEE committee to prevent crammers from hijacking the JEE seats. Some element of surprise is brought each time, so that only those with good concepts on the subjects succeeds.
Nevertheless, a good understanding of the pattern of IIT JEE previous exams would help you to overcome those pattern change surprises. Let us try to know the exam pattern from a historical perspective. I would tell you later why.
Pattern of Exam till IIT JEE-2005:
Prior to IIT-JEE 2006, the exam used to consist of two phases:
1.0 Prelims Exam of Objective type: it was conducted in the month of April.
2.0 Mains exam of Descriptive type: it was conducted in the month of May.
Both IIT-JEE Prelims as well as Mains exam had Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics papers. This two-stage exam pattern of IIT JEE was abandoned as per the recommendation of “Special Task Force” which was constituted in February 2004.
From IIT-JEE 2006 onwards, the entrance exam now consists of a single stage – it consists of two Objective type test papers – each containing MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) questions from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
IIT JEE 2011 Exam Pattern:
To know the latest exam pattern of IIT JEE, let us know what was the pattern of IIT JEE 2011. There were two papers (both objective type) in IIT JEE 2011. Both had same three subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, each subject containing 80 marks in each paper. Thus in each paper of duration 3 hours, there were total 240 marks (80 mark X 3 papers). You can find the Paper-wise, section-wise, question-type distribution of marks below:
IIT JEE 2011 Exam Pattern Paper 1:
IIT JEE 2012 Exam Pattern Paper 2:
What are these IIT-JEE questions types? A proper understanding of the type of IIT JEE questions would help you to crack the answer more easily. So I am giving below a short write-up on the type of questions asked in IIT-JEE.
IIT JEE question types:
Single Correct Answer type question:
These are the normal objective type question in which four answer options are given and only one of them is the correct answer. Mark allotted to each question is usually 3. But for a wrong answer, there is negative marking: -1 or -2.
Multiple Correct Answers type question:
In these questions, again four answer options are given. The correct answer may be only one or may be more than one. You have to mark ALL correct options. Usually 4 mark is allotted to one question and there is no negative marking.
Paragraph type question:
These are Comprehension based questions. It consist of a small passage, followed by 2/3 multiple choice questions. Each of these questions has four options, out of which only one option is correct. Each question carries 5/6 marks. There is negative marking: -1, for wrong answers.
Integer answer type question:
The answer to each question is a single-digit integer, ranging from 0 to 9. You have to find the correct integer and mark it on the answer sheet. Each question carries 4-8 marks. There is no negative marking.
Matrix-Match type question:
In each question, there are two columns of data. In each column there are 4/5 statement. Any given statement in Column 1 can have either one or matching statements in Column 2. You have to match them and mark the correct matches in the answer sheet.
Changes in IIT JEE 2012 Exam Pattern?
So after reading through above content, you might have a good idea about what may be the pattern of IIT JEE 2012. Some changes are brought every time in IIT-JEE paper structure/format and I hope major changes is not brought about.
But as per this story dated June 25th, 2010, a major change in the pattern of IIT JEE is underway with the exam pattern reverting back to two-stage selection process as given in the beginning of this blog post, which was in existence till IIT-JEE 2005, with some more proposed changes.
What are these changes which have been proposed by IIT-JEE reform panel set up in February 2010? These are given below:
1.0 Screening would be based on Class-XII result & a National Aptitude Test.
2.0 Screening weightage would be: 70% - Class XII board result & 30% - National Aptitude Test.
3.0 National Aptitude Test to be online and will be held 3 times a year. The candidate’s best score would be final. This test would check student’s GK, Logic and Communication skills.
4.0 Mains exam of descriptive type questions with paper-pencil format instead of the optical response sheet pattern.
These are only proposed changes and have to be vetted by IIT directors, IIT Council and the National Institute of Technology Council. After traversing all this, the exam pattern changes would be submitted to the HRD ministry for effecting the changes.
Do I see any immediate overhaul of IIT-JEE Exam Pattern in IIT-JEE 2012, as per above proposal? My haunch is no! For two reasons as give below:
1.0 It would be difficult for implementing 70% weightage criteria in Class XII board result- since there are as many as 40 board schools in the country with no uniformity.
2.0 When almost all national entrance exams are going the online Objective pattern way – (CAT went 100% online from CAT 2009, AIEEE went limited online from AIEEE 2011), I would not think any sane person would try to take IIT JEE back to cave age by holding paper-pencil Descriptive test.
Therefore, aspirants of IIT JEE-2012, you can base your preparation on the basis of the exam pattern of IIT-JEE 2011 and develop your concepts on the subject. If there is any change in IIT JEE 2012 exam pattern, I would bring it to your notice in this blog. So keep visiting this blog!
Also have you visited following blog articles of mine, targeted towards you?
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