Students seeking IIT admissions from next year on cannot ignore their Class XII exams—a first class in the board exam (at least 60%) is the new eligibility for IIT admissions. Only two JEE attempts will be allowed and anyone who joins an IIT can’t take the examination again, as some do, to aim for a higher rank. These are among the key changes in the IIT admission process after a review by a team headed by Idi Chandy, ex-JEE chairman. Its suggestions were accepted by the IIT Council chaired by C N R Rao and all IIT Directors.The changes:• JEE will continue to be the admission test but a first class or equivalent in the Class XII exam is must. Relaxation of 5% for SC/ST students.• JEE format will change: it will now have short write-ups on various topics followed by objective questions on the write-up. This would test comprehension as well as analytical skills.• JEE will be only one test: existing preliminary screening test will be done away with.• Students can take JEE in the year in which they graduate from Class XII and the following year. Those who join any IIT cannot take JEE again. The new process will be reviewed after next year. Said Sanjay G Dhande, Director IIT Kanpur: ‘‘The new system may not be the final word but is an attempt to ensure that the best of talent is selected.”
