Bharat SainiLast Updated on September 27, 2018 by Bharat Saini
National Testing Agency, a premier testing organization, set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)), in order to bring efficiency, transparency and qualitative difference in competitive examination process for Higher Education, has been mandated to conduct Entrance Tests for Higher Educational Institutions that include JEE (Main), NEET (UG), UGC-NET, CMAT and GPAT examinations.
JEE (Mains) and UGC NET Examination pattern has been changed by the government 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.
National Testing Agency (NTA) has established Test Practice Centres across the country in order to provide facility for practice for the changed pattern. NTA has also launched a practice App through which students can practice on their own on their computers or on smartphones.
3400 Test Practice Centres (TPCs), for entrance examinations for Higher Education, spread across the 622 Districts in 33 States/UTs in the country, were inaugurated by Prakash Javadekar Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development at New Delhi on Sunday September 16, 2018, for those students who do not have computers and smart phones, as the government is committed to provide quality education with equity and aims to ensure that no student suffers due to lack of resources. Video Conferencing through Google Hangout was successfully held with HRD Minister and around 25 TPCs with 1993 students during this inauguration. This is the real revolution in the field of competitive examinations, HRD Minister explained. Secretary, Higher Education R. Subrahmanyam and DG, NTA Vineet Joshi were also present during the video conference.
TPCs will facilitate students of rural areas and others appearing in entrance examinations for Higher Education to hold practice sessions to enable them to get used to the changed mode and pattern of examination. Students get an opportunity to practice the Computer Based Test (CBT) before the exam. The TPCs will provide Mock Tests to the candidates of JEE (Main) and UGC-NET examinations.
IIT PAL (Professor Assisted Learning) video lecture on SWAYAM Platform for the preparation of JEE can now be accessed by students, HRD Minister informed the students, while interacting with them during the inauguration of TPCs and the Minister received overwhelming response as the students from various centres appreciated and thanked the government for this particular initiative.
NTA for setting up TPCs has engaged a large number of Schools and Colleges that have 30 or more Internet connected PCs/laptops at one location.
Any student can use the facility in TPC free of charge. For registration, students across the country can register themselves, online through NTA Website (https://www.nta.ac.in) or using ‘NTA Student App’ available on Play Store. They can offer their choice of TPCs near their location.
Students are communicated about the allotted TPC, 1 day before practice date through SMS. In the allotted TPC, they can practice and can experience the actual method of taking a CBT. Computer Based Mock tests are provided to the candidates of JEE (Main) and UGC-NET, so that they can familiarize themselves with the logging process, going through detailed instructions regarding the test, using the mouse for attempting each question, navigating between questions, reviewing and editing their options and submitting questions as they would be required to do in the actual tests.
TPCs are made operational based on the student demand and depending on their demand, the TPCs function as under on all the Saturdays and Sundays:
Saturday one shift: From 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM
Sunday two shifts: From 11:00 AM to 02:00 PM
From 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM
Mock Tests will also be conducted and the candidates will be provided instantaneous assessment & feedback on the Mock Test.
Mock Test is also available for students to study at home or anywhere, wherein candidates can take on-line test from NTA website and can also download the Mock test for practice in offline mode. The test can also be practiced on NTA Student App as well.
“Mock Test” at NTA marks the beginning of complete ‘Computer Based Test (CBT)’, era.
