AIEEE WITH SURPRISES

Courtesy: Times of India


The All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) only got tougher this year with increased total marks and an increased level of difficulty. Over 25,000 students in the city and 1.25 lakh candidates across the state registered for the examination that took place on Sunday. The exam is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education across the country.

Students also complained about a tougher chemistry section while the math and physics sections were comparatively easy. The complete change in the pattern of the paper also took the examinees by surprise.

Vedashree Takalkar, who appeared for the exam on Sunday, said, "There were too many surprise elements. The marking system has been changed and since there is negative marking, we had to be very careful in solving the problems. I solved only as much as I knew and did not take much risk."

For the first time, there were questions containing eight marks each. Also, the number of total questions was reduced to 90 from 120 questions last year. "Usually, the paper consists of questions upto three to four marks each, but this time, we were really stunned to see few questions which contained eight marks," Pawan Pithadiya, who is aiming at the 15 pre cent quota reserved at most engineering collages in the state, said.

The AIEEE ranks among the key national-level exams for admission to premier institutions like the National Institutes of Technology (NITs). Candidates with an AIEEE score are also eligible for admission through the 15 per cent AIEEE quota at state-level engineering institutions.

Pranav Deshpande, another student, said, "The math and physics sections were pretty good but the chemistry was little difficult to attempt. Also, I never expected a question weighing eight marks. I think, CBSE students will find the paper easier as it was mostly based on their curriculum."

On Sunday, students, who have opted for B.E and B.Tech courses appeared for Paper I, comprising the compulsory subjects physics, chemistry and mathematics and any one of the four optional subjects chemistry, biotechnology, computer Science and biology between 9.30 am and 12.30 am. Those who have applied for B.Arch and B.Planning took Paper II, comprising maths part I, aptitude part II and drawing Part III between 2 pm and 5 pm.

Parth Doshi, another candidate who attempted the exam at SP college, said, "It was definitely surprising to see a sea-change in the pattern of the question paper. I was initially thinking how to attempt and what to attempt. But, my strategy was no strategy', hence I just went on with what I knew. I did not take much risk, keeping in mind the negative marking."

Experts expect lower cut-offs this year 

The All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) is getting tougher and according to experts, it is going the Indian Institute of technology (IIT) way. Held across 47 centres in the city with over 25,000 candidates registering for the exam, it took everybody by surprise with a total change in pattern.

Kedar Takalkar, who conducts coaching classes for AIEEE, said, "It was relatively a difficult paper and the paper pattern was similar to that of the IIT entrance exams. From 315 total marks last year, the questions totalled to 432 marks this year. Hence, the level of difficulty was also increased."

Distribution of marks was also way different from earlier years. This year, a total of 30 questions in each subject physics, chemistry and mathematics were asked. Out of these, 24 questions were of four marks each and six questions eight marks each. One-fourth negative marking was also one of the elements in the paper.

According to Pitam Singh, head of special examination, Central Board of Secondary education (CBSE), "We decided to reduce the total number of questions this year and fixed it to 90. Out of these, 80 per cent of questions were not extraordinary and needed only normal skills to solve them. The rest 20 per cent were of conceptual type and these questions will really test a candidate's talent. These will prove crucial while selecting the candidates."

A good score in AIEEE can admit a candidate into B.E, B.Tech, B.Arch and also the 20 National Institute of Technology, besides deemed universities and nine central and state government-funded institutions. In the city alone, around 40 engineering colleges accept AIEEE score for admissions, while most engineering colleges in the state fill up 15 per cent of their total intake capacity through the AIEEE.

Akash Chaudhry, who runs a coaching institute for AIEEE in the city, said, "The questions asked in mathematics were lengthy as well as conceptual. The level of questions can be compared with questions asked in mathematics section of IIT-JEE. This, in a way, is an indication that the paper or level of AIEEE is inching towards higher level of complexity, since the amount of time remains same but the number of questions asked have reduced."

It is also estimated that the cut-offs will be marginally lower this year. "If the cut-off was 160 to get into one of the engineering colleges in the state, this time around, the cut-off could be around 130 as a result of the changed pattern in the question paper," Takalkar observed.

The results are likely to be declared on or before June 7 and the score cards will be dispatched to candidates from June 12 to 27, the AIEEE official website said.