GATE Result was announced on March 26 ending a long wait for applicants. The exam was scheduled for multiple dates in February for all the registered candidates. A total of 787,148 students appeared for the exam. The number went even lower as for every 100 registered candidates, 85 appeared for the test and only 14 test takers made the cut. Out of a whopping 922,167 registered candidates, only 129,149 (including all categories) could qualify the exam.
With the qualifying number of candidates so meagre, GATE organizing chairman, Prof G.J. Chakrapani shared his concerns about the falling figures, “Just 15% to 16% candidates qualifying GATE is not very good, but that’s how it is. Maybe the students are not taught well or maybe they’re just not serious enough about preparing well (for the test). Lots of things count,” he said.
He also emphasized that the quality of education at graduation level is not up to the mark and said that GATE examiners try their best to ensure that maximum students secure qualifying marks. He added, “Through the way the questions are set – some are difficult and some easy – candidates should be able to qualify easily. Our intention is to qualify an optimum number of students and ensure that at least 50% of the questions are easy, but they are not meeting that level. The qualifying score is also not high, just 25.”
Prof Chakrapani cleared that GATE is a very student-friendly exam contrary to the popular perception of its being a very tough exam. Efforts are being made by IITs to ensure that all test takers can access as much information as is available about the exam. As per GATE officials, the paper is always set in a manner that qualifying it is easy. The GATE question paper is set with a blend of tough questions and easy ones, making GATE a balanced exam. The fact that only 16% could qualify, raises a lot of questions about the standard of education or the dropping level of interest among students. 25 is the qualifying score, with about 50% questions being set to an easy standard, which is why, candidates failing to answer them causes serious concerns.
What’s Next for Qualifying Candidates
* Apply for M.Tech at IIT Gandhinagar, registration ends on April 16
* Apply for PG Admission at IIT Kanpur, registration ends on April 21
* Apply for M.Tech at IIT Bombay, registration ends on April 18
* Apply for M.Tech at IIT Bhubaneshwar, registration ends on April 10.
Along with the low qualifying percentage of students, the total number of applications for GATE is also falling gradually overtime. Since its inception in 1984, the exam reached its peak in 2013 when 1,200,728 students registered for the test. Since then, the number has been declining every year. In 2014, 1,033,625 candidates registered for GATE followed by 971,831 registrations in 2016, and 922,167 registrations in GATE 2017. The falling numbers could be attributed to the rising level of stringency in selection standards or graduates’ falling interest in higher studies; the latter case being an alarming situation with regard to growth of programs of higher study in India such as Doctoral Programs and Research. However, the chairman believes that it is just a phase, and popularity of GATE and higher studies would rise again in coming years. “Technology and scientific innovations make you crave for more knowledge and that’s how you end up doing research,” he signs off smilingly.
Mobile Apps for NEET Success
NEET is a national level entrance test conducted for admission to MBBS/BDS courses and scheduled for May 07, 2017. There is a significant rise in the number of applications received by CBSE this year. Over 8 lakh candidates are expected to appear for NEET 2017 and hence, the competition will be quite intense.
The duration of this offline medical entrance exam is three hours with 180 objective type questions divided into 4 sections i.e. Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany and Zoology) with an equal number of questions in each section. The syllabus includes topics from Class XI and Class XII CBSE Syllabus.
Students generally start their preparation as soon as they have zeroed in on pursuing medical stream for Class XI and XII. The most important step is to gather study material, previous year papers and checking cut-offs and pattern of the exam along with an able guidance.
In today’s digitally savvy world, the smartphones and tablets have become an inevitable part of life, they indeed lend a helping hand in strengthening your preparation for the exam. There are several apps available on all the leading app stores nowadays that let you practice questions and offer interactive learning techniques. Let’s take a look at the top five mobile apps that will let you ace NEET this year.
NEET Practice
One of the best apps on Google Play store for medical entrance preparation, it contains a pool of questions of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with an option to select a module of 11 to 50 MCQs per test. The app not only contains umpteen tests but also allows you to take them unlimited times. The answer key can be accessed instantly helping in quick evaluation. The questions are lined-up in a planned manner so as to give you a feel of the real testing environment.
NEET Biology Quiz
The app provides good quality Biology Quiz to the aspirants preparing for NEET, AIIMS, JIMPER and other medical exams. The highlights of the app include an interactive interface along with well-schemed questionnaires to assess proficiency in Biology. It can be downloaded for free from App store. It is inspired by the format of a popular quiz show to make learning an engaging process.
NEET 2017
The app brings you a comprehensive view of the entire examination process. It is loaded with numerous sample questions based on higher secondary syllabus laid down by CBSE. The curriculum for NEET and other medical exams targets Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and the app focuses on the quality and level of all three subjects. The app comes with a user-friendly interface which helps to track your progress after every test in an organized manner. There are notable features of sharing questions with friends and app users as well as practicing test within a stipulated time.
NEET Guru
Unquestionably one of the best apps available in the market, its USP is that the content is intricately designed with the expertise of several certified doctors. The app is packed with more than 21,000 high probability questions of Biology, Chemistry and Physics and advanced features rendering you an exhaustive learning experience. It extends direct links to YouTube videos providing explanations on various complex topics.
NEET Previous Papers
Previous year question papers are certainly the most useful resource for preparing for any exam. The app takes this into account and proffers students a complete collection of all sets of previous year papers with solutions. The developers make a continuous effort to upgrade the app with latest updates and features adding to its credibility and utilization.
The apps we have listed above will certainly turn your smartphone into a well-equipped tool that will ensure your preparation is all plain sailing even when you are on the move. There are plenty of other important apps like ePathshala launched by NCERT which provide e-books from class I to class XII based on the syllabus prescribed by CBSE. For more interesting updates and information related to NEET exam, you can follow the link below.
(In arrangement with exams.collegedunia.com/neet http://exams.collegedunia.com/gate )
Source: College Dunia
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