The HRD Ministry has proposed a single national-level entrance exam, called the Indian Science Engineering Eligibility Test (ISEET), to replace IIT-JEE and AIEEE from 2013 onwards. For engineering aspirants, it may come as good news as they will not have to crack the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) as well as other State level exams.
As per the proposal, details of which are still being chalked out, ISEET will have two sections — one to test the aptitude of the aspirant, and the other testing Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at a Class XI and XII level. Though the papers will be set by the IITs, the exam will be conducted by the CBSE. A certain weightage (almost 40 per cent) will be given to board examination results.
While old-timers are calling it a good move, as it takes off the pressure of writing several exams from the students, the weightage given to the board exam scores has put the system under the scanner, as there would be a difference between State board marks and the ICSE/CBSE ones. EducationPlus spoke to students to get their views on this issue.
Chandna Chandragiri, Mount Carmel College
If I had to choose between State and national-level entrance exams, I would definitely choose the former, such as the Common Entrance Test (CET). CET is much easier for PU students as the syllabus is the same. The positive point of ISEET is that it is just one exam, so we will not have to struggle with several other exams, but the negative point is that the question paper will be prepared by IIT.
The 40 per cent weightage given to board examinations marks is both positive and negative as, if one has done well in the PU exam, it will be great for him or her, but if the exam hasn't been very good for you, then it will hamper your chances of getting through the ISEET.
Suresh Kumar, Visvesvaraya Technological University
It is best to have one exam rather than three or four. The approach which these people are taking towards the betterment of students is really good. If there is only one exam, there will be no tension of handling different syllabi, thus it will relieve students of a lot of pressure.
It will be a standardised method of choosing the smartest of students from all over the country. But the consideration of marks of 10 and 12th standards will not be good. If a person could not do well due to some problem, maybe a health issue, the exam will take place only once a year, so he/she will be stuck for the whole year and there will be no other exam to write.
Yashashvini Jois, Mount Carmel College
ISEET has both positive and negative points. Students who are studying under the State board will not be able to cope up with such tough exams.
It would be better if there is a common syllabus throughout the country. I would prefer a State-level exam so that I could get a college according to my level.
Students who prepare for IIT are more equipped, so it is not balanced.
If a student is from a State board, then he/she is not prepared as a student from CBSE or ICSE will be, so it will be unfair. If the syllabus is of State level, then the exam should be at the State level and vice versa.
More weight should be given to board marks so that we have a better chance at clearing the exam. Aptitude exam will surely be a plus point.
Vikas M. Jayanth, BEL Composite PU College
ISEET will reduce our burden as we will have to give only one exam. Students all over the country will be ranked according to their ability. Being a science student, I would choose CET as it will be easier as we prepare according to the State level. We know the standard of IIT and it will be really difficult for us.
It will be a lot more difficult for people from rural areas as they will not have all the facilities to prepare for these exams. There will be no coaching classes for them as many of them will not be able to afford them.
Still it will be helpful for us as we will know where we stand in our country according to our ability, and the idea of just one exam is really good.
Adarsha Joisa, Peoples Education Society Institute of Technology
It will be beneficial for all aspiring engineers. I wrote four exams and it was very tiring and hectic. If one exam is conducted, the pressure on the students will be surely reduced. A common ranking system for the whole country sounds good.
ISEET will be able to reduce a lot of headache as students will have to prepare only for one exam. We can put all our concentration and effort on one exam rather than putting it on four different exams.
The question paper will be prepared by IIT, so probably it will be difficult.
Including aptitude will prove to be of great importance for these students as most of the companies conduct an aptitude test for the screening of candidates. So, if there is already a national aptitude ranking available it will be helpful for them.
It will also tell how smart one really is and ensure that the students who really deserve the seat will get a better opportunity compared to those who just mug up in exams.
But the involvement of percentage criteria will not be justified as Karnataka Board is much easier than CBSE or ICSE Board, so it will not be fair with CBSE and ICSE students as State Board students will have higher percentage.
Shubhesh Swain, Bangalore College of Engineering and Technology
I think ISEET will be better for many students as many are good in aptitude rather than the basic subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Maths. It should have been implemented at my time so I would have had a better chance in IIT. Those who are good in both aptitude and PCM will be very confident of cracking it.
It will reduce the burden on students. If I had to choose, I would have gone for ISEET as the percentage of 12th and aptitude will provide us with better chances. Those who are good at both will have a lot of weightage over those who are weak in any one of them and it will be interesting to see everyone in the country compete with one another.
