IIT Kanpur to Test New Exam Format
Jun 17, 2026
The IITs have decided to conduct a pilot aptitude test for students joining all 23 institutes this year. This model has been proposed to reduce dependency on coaching centres among JEE aspirants.
Photo Credit: Indian Express
In adaptive testing, the difficulty of questions will change according to a candidate’s responses in the test. The pilot testing will be conducted to understand whether aptitude-based measures offer insights beyond the current entrance examination system.
Photo Credit: Indian Express
According to officials, IIT Kanpur has taken up the onus of designing the assessment with the help of its internal team and will coordinate the administration of the test across the IIT system.
Photo Credit: Indian Express
Photo Credit: Indian Express
The decision to run pilot aptitude tests was taken at a meeting of IIT Directors on August 25 last year, where changes in assessment methods were discussed to make exams a better and less stressful assessment for aspiring engineers.
Photo Credit: Indian Express
The pilot test, tentatively scheduled to be conducted after the conclusion of the ongoing admissions process, might include all 23 IITs of the country. The test is being conducted to help IITs gauge the strengths and limitations of aptitude-based assessment before changing the existing JEE Advanced exam pattern.
Photo Credit: Indian Express
According to official sources, IIT Kanpur Director, Prof Manindra Agrawal, had earlier raised concerns regarding the current structure of JEE Advanced and the rocketing fee structure of the coaching industries, which loads up the emotional and financial stress on students and their families.
Photo Credit: Indian Express
Agrawal had proposed a shift to adaptive testing, stating that “If we bring in the component of aptitude-based questions, it can reduce the impact of coaching. Aptitude co-relates with innate intelligence. Coaching can only train students to use intelligence better; it cannot change that intelligence.”
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