IIT-JEE 2007

Over 2.5 lakh IIT aspirants across India appeared for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) on Sunday, to try their luck for one of the coveted 4,000 seats across seven institutions. Most of the aspiring engineers gave a thumbs-up to the new-look JEE that was introduced this year. Overall, the consensus was that JEE 2007 was simpler than the exams in the last few years. Consequently, cut-offs are expected to go up.While JEE-2006 comprised three separate papers of 2 hours each, this year’s test was a single-stage objective-type examination, for the first time consisting of two papers of 3 hours each. Both papers had sections on Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Most students felt the first paper was easier, while the second contained more difficult questions. JEE results will be declared on May 30, and the counselling will begin on June 19.Till last year, each correct answer carried one mark; and wrong answers attracted a negative 0.33 marks. However, this year, while section one and two gave three marks for every right answer, students would lose a mark for every wrong answer. Similarly, section three carried four marks for right answer and a negative mark for the wrong one. Each question in section four carried six marks, but no negative marking. In all, there were 22 questions each from maths, physics and chemistry.Last year, about three lakh students competed for the 4,078 seats in the seven IITs. To accommodate the additional 27 per cent quota for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, the IITs had increased their seats. But with the Supreme Court's stay on the OBC quota, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry is still undecided on whether to increase the seats or not. But for students, the first concern will be their entrance test results, expected by the end of May.