Questions about Aptitude testing
What do Aptitude test Check?
An aptitude test is an instrument used to determine and measure an individual’s ability to acquire, through future training, some specific set of skills. There are several aptitude tests. Most popular worldwide are David Battery of Differential Abilities (DBDA) and Differential Aptitude Test (D.A.T.). They are designed to measure a single primary ability factor and it is important in industrial settings and career and vocational guidance.
These tests cover several areas including, Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Ability, Abstract reasoning, Perceptual Speed and Accuracy, Mechanical Reasoning, Space Relations, Spelling, and Language Use etc. The tests are performed under exam conditions and are strictly timed. All questions have a definite right or wrong answer.
How to know if my ward should take JEE advance or JEE or CET?
Most of the Science stream students after 12th standard, aspire to become Engineer. To get admission in to an Engineering degree college on must study Physics, Chemistry and Maths at +2 level. Along with that it is mandatory to take an entrance exam.
Let’s understand about each of these entrance tests.
Both IIT JEE Main and IIT JEE Advanced are the exam for students to get into top engineering colleges in India. Qualifying IIT JEE Exam with good marks gives students the opportunity to join top National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), IIITs and CFTIs.
Both these exams are conducted by 2 different bodies. IIT JEE Main is conducted by NTA twice a year for colleges like NITs, CFTIs, IIITs and other engineering colleges.
Whereas JEE Advanced is conducted by any one of the IIT institute for admission into all the IITs. This year, IIT Delhi will conduct the JEE Advanced 2020 for the selection of the students in 23 IITs in India. JEE Advanced is conducted by the 7 zonal IITs on the rotational basis under the supervision of the Joint Admission Board (JAB).
Both the exams are related to each other. To appear for JEE Advanced a candidate must appear for JEE Main. Even though both the exams are for Engineering there are some significant differences between them.
Here the top differences between IIT JEE Main and IIT JEE Advanced.
JEE Mains VS JEE Advanced – No. of Attempts!
The JEE exam authorities have set certain rules for the number of times a student can attempt these exams.
For JEE Mains
The number of times a student can attempt JEE Main is fixed. He/she can give this exam 6 times in 3 consecutive years.
For JEE Advanced
A student can appear in JEE Advanced Exam for maximum of 2 times and that too in the consecutive years
Difference in Difficulty Level of JEE Mains & Advanced
“Everything is difficult if you have not correctly prepared for it.”
Both these exams are difficult but JEE Advanced is more difficult than Main.
Do you know why?
Because the aim of JEE Mains is determined to get the better understanding of basic concepts of 11th and 12th class topics. Whereas, JEE Advance has topics other than 11th and 12th. It focuses on assessing the abilities of candidates based on their problem-solving skills.
Eligibility Criteria!!
To sort out the suitable candidates based on their age, educational qualifications and other criteria, the conducting bodies have decided some guidelines for JEE Exams.
JEE Mains Eligibility Criteria
Qualifying Exam – Candidates must have taken at least 5 subjects in class 12th/qualifying examination in order to be eligible for writing JEE (Main) – 2020. The candidates who have taken 4 subjects are not eligible to the exam.
Age Criteria – There is no eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2020 for candidates belonging to General/OBC/ST/SC/PWD Categories.
JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria
Only Top 250000 candidates from JEE Main Merit List of various categories will be eligible to apply and appear for Advanced 2020.
JEE Mains VS JEE Advanced – Paper Pattern
Candidates can show their intelligence and eligibility for getting admission in top engineering institutes by qualifying these exams. The candidates are required to understand the Paper Pattern as qualifying JEE by getting good score without knowing the latest exam pattern is very difficult task. It provides a complete idea of the nature of questions which may be asked in the exam paper.
The pattern of both exams is different from each other. JEE Mains and Advanced both consists of two sets of papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2.
JEE Main 2020 Paper Pattern
| JEE Main Paper 1 | JEE Main Paper 2 | |
| Subjects | Physics, Chem & Maths | Aptitude, Maths & Planning |
| Mode of Exam | Online | Online |
| Language | English, Hindi & Gujarati | English, Hindi & Gujarati |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 300 | 400 |
JEE Advanced Paper Pattern 2020
| JEE Main Paper 1 | JEE Main Paper 2 | |
| Subjects | Physics, Chem & Maths | Physics, Chem & Maths |
| Mode of Exam | Online | Online |
| Language | English & Hindi | English & Hindi |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Type Of Question | MCQ | Numerical Answer Type |
JEE Mains VS JEE Advanced – Admission Accepting Institutes
The main difference is in terms of admission accepting institutes through both exams.
Candidates who qualify the JEE Mains can get admission in NITs, IIITS and various CFTIs across the country while IITs and ISM Dhanbad give admissions according to AIR in JEE Advanced along with top 20 percentiles in reputed boards.
CET is Common Entrance Test. The CET is a competitive exam conducted for the purpose of admission of students to the first year courses in engineering and architecture to various professional colleges across the country.
CET can be state or University level entrance exam conducted by Directorate of Technical education of concerned state or University itself for admission in Engineering, B. Arch and Pharmacy courses. The acceptability of JEE Main score is nationwide while the CET can be applicable for University/State level only.
Till 2017, there were lot of differences between JEE Main and MHT CET, however, from 2018 the differences between both have been reduced. The major change which has been incorporated in MHT CET is that the difficulty level of this exam has been raised to that of JEE Main. Till last year, JEE Main was far difficult, while MHT CET was comparatively easier.
Differences between JEE Main and MHT CET:
- JEE Main is a national level engineering entrance test, while MHT CET is a state level engineering entrance test.
- JEE Main is the entrance exam for Admission to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs. It is also the first level exam for appearing in JEE Advanced for IIT admission. Apart from these, some state engineering colleges (Government) and private engineering institutes across the country also offer admission to candidates in B. Tech programmes on the basis of JEE Main.
- MHT CET is only the entrance exam for admission to government/private engineering institutes in the state of Maharashtra only.
If you wish to take admission in IITs, then you have to first JEE Main and then JEE Advanced, and if you wish to take admission in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs/CFTIs, then you have to take JEE Main. However, if you wish to take admission in B. Tech programmes in government/private colleges of Maharashtra state (which take students on the basis of MHT CET score), then you must appear in MHT CET.
After reading this you must have got fair idea about these entrance exams. Coming back to the question – How to know if my ward should take JEE advance or JEE or CET?
The best way is to take the aptitude test to find out the best fit.
What are the aptitude tests available now in lock down situation?
There are quite few online aptitude tests which one can give. They are based on David Battery of Differential Abilities (DBDA) or Differential Aptitude Test (D.A.T.)
There is no harm in giving one of these tests, but they are short of telling the best fit. One of the reliable aptitude test is Knowledge Application and Aptitude Test (KAAT). This is specifically designed to measure if one should aspire and study for JEE advance or aim for CET only.