Bengaluru: Adding a biology paper to the existing JEE, introducing a test on mental aptitude and general ability, giving weightage to Class XII marks and counselling videos for parents — these were among the suggestions made at a meeting organised by Centre for Educational and Social Studies (CESS) on Thursday.
MK Ramesh, president of Medical Assessment and Rating Board under the National Medical Commission, said exam should be held on multiple days and 50% weightage should be given for Class XII results.
That is not the solution,” he said. NEET should be held within one week of the Class XII exam. “We cannot go on creating more seats to decrease the competition. Y Narahari, from IISc computer science department, suggested a state rank based on Class XII marks and an all-India rank based on the NEET rank. Each state could draw up a merit list based on a combination of both ranks, the student suggested.
He discussed the possibility of preparing a bank of questions, preparing the paper just 10 minutes ahead of the exam.
“What mark will we consider for a 72-year-old who took an exam?” he asked. The meeting brought together govt and regulatory bodies, higher education institutions, students, mental health experts and think tanks. The suggestions will be submitted to the high-powered task force on exam reforms led by Nandan Nilekani . Prof Solomon Satish Kumar, director of CMC Vellore, explained how the institute conducted general ability and mental aptitude tests to pick candidates when it conducted its own entrance test. Somanath, however, asked the members to keep in mind that there is no age bar for NEET.