New IIT entrance format to get brighter students: Sibal

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The new format of exams for entrance to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will ensure brighter students getting through to the prestigious institutions, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said on Friday.

Speaking at a function in IIT-Delhi, Sibal said the new system will not replace the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) as speculated, and will give weightage to school board marks.

"School board exam marks (Class 12) will be given weightage, which will be 40 per cent," Sibal said adding that with the coaching system dominating, students were ignoring board exams and focusing on coaching for the JEE."

The HRD minister also informed that the exam will be held in two parts, mains and advanced. The first part will be an aptitude test, and the second part will check the student's 'depth of knowledge'.

"IIT faculty will set the paper, and the exam will be called JEE only," he said.

The minister said the new system will help get better students to the premier institute.

According to a senior professor from the IIT, the new pattern may be introduced from 2013.