NEET & Tidy Like JEE? Experts Weigh In On How Two-level Online Test Across Sessions May Be The Way Forward

As the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is being considered for an online mode from next year, experts are suggesting that the exam could be conducted on the lines of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) model, with a two-level test across multiple sessions. This approach could be the key to making the exam more efficient and secure.

Conducting an exam of such magnitude, with over 23 lakh candidates, in a single day is impractical, says V Ramgopal Rao, former director of IIT-Delhi and current Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani campuses. The current pen-and-paper mode, with physical question papers in 13 languages, is not only impractical but also challenging to ensure the integrity of the exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, relies on third-party vendors and contract staff, making it difficult to ensure the exam’s security.

Rao proposes a two-level exam system, similar to JEE, to reduce the stakes involved. The first level would be a screening exam, conducted by the NTA in a computer-based mode, with each batch accommodating about 2 lakh students over multiple sessions. This would reduce the risk of paper leaks and ensure computer security against hacking. Students would be allowed to take the exam twice, with the best score being considered for shortlisting. Scores would be made available immediately after the exam, and normalization would not be a challenge since it’s only a shortlisting exam.

The second level would be a qualifying exam, managed entirely by a top medical institute like AIIMS, similar to JEE-Advanced. This would ensure institutional ownership and commitment to maintaining the exam’s sanctity and integrity. The exam would probe the understanding of concepts, and the remaining candidates would be considered for private colleges based on their scores.

Rao also recommends turning the NTA into a constitutional body, similar to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), to leave exams and education to experts. This would ensure that the exam is conducted with the highest level of quality and integrity.

What sets JEE apart from other exams is its quality and difficulty level. The question paper is set by experts from tier-2 and tier-3 institutions, and there have been no instances of repeated questions in any session. An exam like NEET must have a similar level of quality, held up by a tightly knit system dedicated to the conduct of the test only.

In conclusion, conducting NEET in a two-level online test across multiple sessions, similar to JEE, could be the way forward for this high-stakes exam. It would reduce the stakes involved, ensure the exam’s security, and provide a high-quality test that probes the understanding of concepts.