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Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 17: The central government has opened a network of more than 3,400 ‘test practice centres’ (TPC) in 622 districts in the country. The test centres are to enable students writing for higher education entrance examinations such as JEE and UGC-NET to hold practice sessions; the idea is to enable them to ‘get used to the changed mode and pattern of examination,’ updates on Sep. 17 said.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has established a network of TPC across the country in about 622 districts in 33 states / UT, for students of rural areas and others to have the opportunity to practice computer-based tests (CBT) before the actual examinations.
The TPC will provide mock tests to candidates of JEE (main) and UGC-NET examinations, updates from the government’s publicity agency PIB state. Available information said that the centres would also help students who do not have computers and smart phones.
The Union minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the facility in New Delhi on Sep. 16. About 25 TPC joined the minister on Google Hangouts during the inauguration.
Javadekar said during the interaction with the centres that the government was committed to providing ‘quality education with equity.’
“Therefore we are launching test practice centres across the country for those students who do not have computers and smart phones. Now no student will suffer due to lack of resources,” the minister was quoted as having said. He said that the government has changed the pattern of the JEE (main) and UGC NET examination from this year.
‘Now it has become computer based instead of pen and paper mode. The new exam pattern is more transparent, leak proof, scientific, student friendly and fast.’
To provide facility for practice for the changed pattern, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has established test practice centres across the country. The NTA has also launched a practice App through which students can practice on their computers or on smart phones. ‘This is the real revolution in the field of competitive examinations,’ the minister explained.
The minister also informed students that they can now access IIT PAL (‘professor assisted learning’) video lectures on the Swayam platform for preparation of JEE.
The secretary for Higher Education R. Subrahmanyam and DG of the NTA Vineet Joshi were also present during the video conference, the updates said.
It was to bring efficiency, transparency and qualitative difference in competitive examination process for higher education that the ministry of Human Resource Development set up the NTA, a premier testing organization, to conduct entrance tests for higher educational Institutions. The NTA has been mandated to conduct JEE (main), NEET (UG), and UGC-NET, CMAT and GPAT examinations.
Through SMS, students are informed about the allotted TPC, a day before the date of practice. In the allotted TPC, they can practice and experience the actual method of taking a CBT. Computer-based mock tests are provided to the candidates of JEE (main) and UGC-NET. That way, they can familiarize themselves with the logging process; going through detailed instructions concerning tests; using the mouse to attempt answers at each question; navigating through questions; reviewing and editing options and submitting questions as they would be required to do in actual tests.
Any student can use the facilities in the TPC for free. For registration, students across the country can register online through the NTA’s website www.nta.ac.in or by using the NTA student App available on Google Play Store.