At around 5.30 pm today, we could see the link of a new notice at nta.ac.in that opened up to a PDF file on the new pattern of JEE Main. Within half an hour, the link for notice was removed, even though the notice itself is still accessible at https://nta.ac.in/Download/Notice/Notice_20190902120505.pdf. While the notice in itself is a game changer – completely overhauling the existing JEE Main pattern, its removal has raised the question on whether NTA is having second thoughts on it or not.
What is this new JEE Main pattern?
For those who missed our previous news update, the NTA’s latest notification says that JEE Main will be held as per a new pattern that has been approved by the JEE Apex Board (JAB). The new pattern, simply put, is as follows.
As per the notice that we are talking about, the new pattern is supposed to be implemented from this JEE Main itself, that is JEE Main 2020 January scheduled to be held from January 6 to 11, 2020. The same pattern is anticipated to apply for the April exam as well.
What are the changes in JEE Main 2020 exam pattern?
Well, the whole pattern has changed.
Now there are three different papers, as opposed to two, paper 1 and paper 2 of last time. Now there will be separate papers for BE/B.Tech that is engineering aspirants, B.Arch that is architecture aspirants, and B.Plan that is planning aspirants.
As you can see the new exam pattern in pic above, the B.Tech exam, as well as Mathematics section in B.Arch, B.Plan exams will have non MCQ questions. These will basically be questions where one has to type in the answer, just like in some other national level exams like GATE, CAT.
The number of questions are also changed. B.Tech entrance exam of JEE Main will have 25 questions each in physics, chemistry, mathematics sections. There will actually be 20 MCQs, and 5 non-MCQs in each section. Until last year each section only had MCQs, 30 each.
Mathematics section in B.Arch, B.Plan papers will have 25 questions too; 20 MCQs, 5 non MCQs. Aptitude test section is the only untouched section, it still has 50 MCQs as before. Drawing test in B.Arch exam has undergone a few changes and will now have 2 questions.
B.Planning is a whole new paper, which was earlier merged with B.Arch entrance exam of JEE Main.
Will NTA implement these changes, now that the notice has been removed?
There were absolutely zero reports of any changes to happen in JEE Main pattern before today. No single newspaper, no media outlet was leaked any such news. So besides the notice, there is no way to know for sure about the changes.
NTA has insofar exhibited firm decision making skills and implemented all past changes quite smoothly. Despite a few resistances, it successfully conducted JEE Main in completely online mode, twice a year. Besides NEET, there have as such not been flip flops in decisions by NTA until now. So as the notice does show these changes, there are high chances that the same will be implemented. Perhaps NTA would make the notice public tomorrow morning.
Nevertheless, students can for now go through the notice to know what it says, and wait for it to come officially again at the website.
Let us know your thoughts on this, in comments below.
