Class XII marks in JEE: well-meaning idea may change nothing

THE idea behind the new pattern of Joint Entrance Examination for admission to most engineeering institutes was giving weightage to the Class XII board results. It was felt that this would ensure that students didn't neglect their school education to focus on colleges, which was in turn allowing coaching centres to mushroom.

Ironically, as RTI replies received from four IITs regarding those who have cleared the entrance examination over three years show, the idea may be well-meaning but misplaced. Nearly 80 per cent of the students selected for IITs in this period also scored 80 per cent or more in their "qualifying examination" (Class XII or equivalent).

This means that students getting selected for IITs are already those who perform well in their qualifying exams.

In 2012, of the 857 students selected for IIT-DelhiIIT-Mumbai, 707 (or more than 82 per cent) got more than 80 per cent in their qualifying exam. In IIT-DelhiIIT-Mumbai, the percentage of such students was 85.86, 78.53 and 78.32 per cent respectively in 2011, 2010 and 2009.

In case of IIT-Guwahati, 593, 573, 469 and 390 students were selected in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively. Students who had got over 80 per cent in their qualifying exams comprised 81.45, 81.67, 79.10 and 80 per cent.

IIT-Kharagpur shows a similar pattern. Data for 2010, 2009 and 2008 shows that 83.17, 81.50 and 81.65 percentage students obtained above 80 per cent marks in their qualifying exams.

RTI replies were received from only four of the seven old IITs. Atul Vyas, Deputy Registrar of IIT-Delhi, said, "We do not maintain such data since we do not require it once the students are admitted." The Indian Express got the information after inspecting files related to each of the 857 students admitted this year.

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