New formula

The IIT Council’s formula — to allow only those placed in the top 20 percentile in the Board exams among those who crack the advanced examination to be admitted to the premier institute — seems a reasonable compromise for a fairer recognition of all State Boards, without compromising the merit for entry into the IITs. But that does not normalise the differing standards of the Boards. Nor will it reduce the scramble for coaching classes.

K. Chandrasekar,

Chennai

The new “formula” might have ended the conflict in the IITs but it will create more problems for students. All these days, they had the clarity of studying for only the JEE in order to qualify for admission to the IIT. But now they have to work hard for their class 12 examinations and for two additional examinations.

This will be exciting news for coaching institutes because they will now start “training” students for class 12 examinations too.

G.M. Durga Prasad,

Thiruvananthapuram

The new admission procedure is more challenging. The fact that emphasis is being laid on class 12 scores, together with two screening procedures, shows that the IITs intend to raise their academic quality. Importance to class 12 scores will reduce the dependence on coaching institutes, and help students realise the importance of board exams.

A. Aparna,

Hyderabad

Under the new formula, students have to achieve a high percentile in their Board exams. This will cast an extra burden on them as they have to prepare for the entrance test, which is of a totally different pattern, separately.

Navin Katyal,

New Delhi

In the name of reforms in the selection process, the IIT has taken a retrograde step by introducing the JEE main and the JEE advanced. And given the importance of being in the top 20 percentile in the Board exams, coaching institutes will only flourish, much against the wishes of Kapil Sibal.

D. Aravind,

Chennai

Mr. Sibal has made an attempt to add some value to class 12 mark sheets. His attempt would certainly have been laudable had all State Boards been the same in their standards or, at least, similar. But the fact is class 12 marks are hardly a measure of a student’s potential. Differences in the standard of different Boards cannot be taken care of by mathematical normalisation.

While talking of the Kota style of coaching classes, one should not forget that similar schools exist in and around the Namakkal region of Tamil Nadu too. They guarantee the maximum cut-off in State Board exams through intense mugging-up drills. Students from such schools will enjoy an unfair advantage when it comes to their overall JEE score even if they do not perform well in the main and advanced entrance exams.

S. Pravish,

Chennai