Students speak: Is a third attempt for JEE Advanced a plausible idea?

A couple of weeks ago, 283 students sent 23 joint letters to IITs. It stated that JEE Advanced is a “career-defining” exam. Therefore, students who performed poorly because of mental stress due to the pandemic. IITs should allow another attempt next year. But, the IITs, however, do not agree with the students, stated The Print. So, CiOL collected the opinions of students who wanted a third attempt at JEE Advanced (and who are against it).

The sentiments couldn't have clearer when a student said, "Isn't it unfair that everyone is talking about students who are currently in 12th. That, their competition will increase. But what about us? No one is ready to listen to us. After prepping for two long years, everything had become uncertain for us. We didn't even know if exams would happen or not. If they would, then when? We had no exact dates.  Add to that, everywhere there was fear of life. No one talked about academics back then. How is it fair to us, that we don't get another chance at our career? How can IITs decide who gets the benefit? We students are not factory products, our mental health deserves a top tier consideration as well."

In support with JEE Advanced 3rd Attempt

A student who couldn't qualify for JEE Advanced states, "I hope IITs provide us one extra attempt for JEE Advance. I am even ready to give JEE Main once again. Then, if we qualify please let us attempt the exam. The pandemic hit our studies hard". Supporting the sentiment another student said, "The government must consider this year as a special case. Extraordinary times demand extraordinary decisions. Due to Covid areas were in the containment zones. Everyone was going through a traumatic situation."

A Twitter account JEE Advanced last attempters said, "Jee Mains has 3 attempts and advanced, two attempts. The students who missed their last attempt in the pandemic, or could not perform well deserve another chance." A student said, "After scoring 99 percentile in JEE Main 2020 January, I started the preparation for Advanced. But due to COVID-19, our coaching has been shut down from March. It left my preparation incomplete. I hope I get a chance to give such important life exam once more."

"We have worked hard. Kindly consider an extra attempt as we students were the most affected in the pandemic," said another student. "EduMin should consider this 3rd attempt as a one-time measure," she added. A student tweeted, "EduMin should understand the gravity of our problems, We prepared for the paper but the circumstances were not in our favour. So, we weren't able to give our full due to anxiety and fear."

"The New Education Policy removes the age barrier as a restriction for education. Then why are IITs restricting JEE (A) upto two attempts?" students ask. Another said, "I am a JEE Aspirant from a rural area. I could not join any coaching institute for Advanced exam this year due to widespread lockdown. Please save my career by increasing the attempts."

Against JEE Advanced 3rd Attempt

These views are from another source (ThePrint). According to them, JAB officials told them that they have no intention to allow students for the third attempt at JEE Advanced. It will be unfair to those who are going to attempt the exam in 2021 and will also increase competition for the next batch of students. “Students who wrote the exam in 2020, at least, got a chance to go to school physically until March. They also attended coaching classes physically and had better access to study material. In fact, they got extra time to study because the exams delayed a lot,” quoted ThePrint.

It also adds that the source said, "This is in complete contrast to students who are in school right now and are locked up in their homes. They have to do their school classes and their coachings online. Things will not be easy for them when they attempt the exam in 2021. We discussed all these factors in the JAB meeting (in October) and we decided that we should not give another chance to students, who have exhausted their attempts,” he added. A second JAB source also said to the news media that the Ministry of Education is also in favour of the decision.

So, is a third attempt for JEE Advanced a plausible idea? Let us know in the comments.

Students must also know that JEE Advanced 2021 will be open for 3rd attempt only for students who couldn't appear for the exams. IIT-JAB announced on October 13, 2020, that students who qualified JEE mains 2020 and had been affected by COVID-19, this year shall be allowed to appear for JEE Advanced directly, without qualifying the JEE Mains 2021 examination.