JEE Advanced Exam Pattern:
JEE Advanced is probably the most unpredictable exam out there. Come to think of it; almost everything is erratic. Whether it’s the type of questions, the number of questions or even the total number of marks, everything is unpredictable. But based on statistical analysis, it is comforting to find a few trends unsullied by the passage of time. Learning as much as possible from the trends of past year is the best shot that we have to prepare ourselves mentally for the exam. Here are some of the most important things you need to know about the JEE Advanced exam pattern.
JEE Advanced Exam Pattern: What You Need to Know
1) The Number of Papers: It has been fixed at 2 for quite some time now. The number of papers is one trend that shows some signs of alteration. However, this is cold comfort. Two papers of 3 hours each, with a mere 2-hour gap in between, can be quite taxing. Develop your writing speed and approach during the prep time accordingly.
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2) Total Marks: Not fixed. Statistical analysis, though, pinpoints that it is around 360. However, the key point is this: equally weighted papers were asked in consecutive years only in 2013 and 2014. Before that, there was no fixed total. Also, this pattern, which continued for two happy years, was broken in 2015, with the exam carrying 504 marks in total across two papers!
3) Type of Questions: The advent of objective-type examinations has given rise to a plethora of new types of questions. Currently, the types of questions being asked are Single choice MCQs, Multiple correct MCQs, Integer answer type questions, matrix match type, and passage comprehension type. These questions are distributed over the two papers. However, it is equally probable that some questions might not appear at all. It rests in the hands of the examiner.
4) Marking Scheme: This is where things regarding JEE Advanced exam pattern start getting tricky. There is NO fixed marking scheme for JEE-Advanced. One paper may have all types of questions with negative marking while the other may not even have negative marking. It is the uncertainty that the paper setters love to exploit by playing with your mental equilibrium. Negative marking is generally penalized at +4,-1; That is, a question of 4 marks will have a penalty of 1 mark associated with it. Generally, some questions do NOT involve negative marking. E.g. multiple correct questions won’t have negative markings. However, this is ‘subject to change. Please read all paper-related instructions carefully’ :p as was on display in both 2013 and 2015, where negative marking was involved in all types of questions. The ratio of negative marking also varies; 2015 involved questions that had +4 -2 negative marking as well.
5) Matrix Type Questions: These questions leads to a lot of curiosity amongst students. The years 2013-14-15 have seen objective as well as the subjective type of matrix matching. Subjective matching is equivalent to a multiple correct answer MCQ. Hence, it is quite tough to deal with. Objective matching is comparatively easier.
6) Level of Difficulty: The level of difficulty of the JEE Advanced is hyped to a certain extent. However, toughness levels vary through the years. It’s more about your nerves than anything else. Iron-clad nerves will make you sail through the paper. Get nervous, and you’ll start losing the psychological battle.
On an average, one subject would be fairly easy. As for the remaining two, well it’s the examiners’ home ground, and they’ve got the right to make the rules of the game! So, as soon as you get the paper, take a deep breath. Relax. Cool down. Take a look at the paper with a practical state of mind. And that’s the moment your confidence will be pumped and things will get a bit easier to cope up with!
To conclude, it is entirely up to the exam setters how much they want to test you. This article is meant to prepare and familiarize you with what you can expect from JEE Advanced papers. There’s a fair chance that whatever changed will change again in the overall pattern.
Feel free to ask your queries in the comments section below. I’ll try to make sure every one of those is answered. Study with all your heart, guys. College life will be totally worth the struggle!
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