The JEE Main notification is out and the first decision you have to make is whether you should opt for online or paper-pencil test. JEE Mains Online or Offline – this is a question which cannot be dismissed casually. The intense competition that you have for the limited seats in NITs and the lakhs of aspirants all over the country means that even a one mark difference can change your fortunes. Most test taking agencies would prefer to go in for a computer based format as it lends itself to easy, transparent and fool proof test taking mechanism despite the logistic headaches of arranging computers for all the candidates. In fact, most exams like GATE, CAT and bank exams are currently being conducted in a computer based format. To cater to rural students and students not comfortable with computers CBSE is being forced to offer the paper-pencil test also. To discourage students from opting for the paper pencil test, earlier CBSE used to conduct these tests  only in towns like Warangal, Guntur and Tirupati, while in cities like Hyderabad only online tests were conducted. However, CBSE changed this practice in 2015 and has started conducting the paper pencil test in cities  as well. So the question JEE Mains Online or Offline needs to be considered seriously as there is now a choice which you have to exercise.

Let us now see what mode is preferable. Though the younger generation is very comfortable with the digital medium, since decisions are often made by either parents or teachers most students are forced to go for the paper based test. But, is it the best option for you? Let us examine that in a little more detail.

Time taken to mark answers

In the case of a paper-pencil test you have to mark your answers by bubbling a circle with a pen and this takes time. In the case of the computer based test one click of the mouse is sufficient. It is a lot more convenient and less time taking considering that you have to answer 90 questions.

Errors in bubbling

Often students make errors in bubbling. Either they mark the wrong option or mark the answer for the wrong question. This happens because the OMR and the question paper are separate. In the case of the computer based test the options are given right below or alongside the question. So the scope for such errors is considerably reduced.

Changing Answers

In the case of a paper-pencil test you cannot change your answers once you mark your answer whereas in the computer based test you can change your answer any number of times.

Ease of navigation & time management

In the case of a computer based test, questions are presented one after another on the screen. On the right hand side of the screen you have question numbers presented in the form of a palette, subject wise. Initially all question numbers are red in colour. As you answer them they turn green. So, at any point of time you know what is your progress thus far. You get an idea about  how many questions you answered and how many more you need to answer. By clicking on the question number, you can directly go to that question. This saves time as you don’t have to keep shuffling pages.

However, there is an option where by you can see the entire question paper.

Mark questions for review

When you read a question, you have three options –

1. you can answer it immediately, if you can;
2. If you can’t – you can leave it or
3. you can come back to the question at a later point of time.

To facilitate the last option in the computer based test you can mark for review.  If you opt for this the colour of the question number on your answer palette changes to purple. At any point of time you are reminded which questions are marked for review and you can directly go to that question. In the case of  paper based test this is not possible.  Even if you mark the question, unless you go back to that sheet, you are not reminded that there is question which you need to get back to.

Extra week for preparation

JEE Mains Online or Offline – another factor you have to weigh in is the gap between the two exams. This means that you have an extra week to prepare. Considering that you have very limited preparation time after board exams, this one week is very significant.

Know the exam trend

Normally all formats of exam have the same degree of difficulty. So the paper based test is an indicator of the relative level of difficulty of each of the subjects. Last year, for example, our students found the physics section tough. While this came as a shock for the students who took the paper pencil test, the online test takers were better prepared mentally for this eventuality and performed better overall.

Unfounded fears

Most parent and teachers have unfounded fears about the computer based test as they themselves are uncomfortable with the digital medium. This generation is very tech savvy and they are very comfortable with computers.  Perhaps, more comfortable with computer screens than with paper. Also, what happens if the computer fails? If the computer fails another computer is arranged and the test starts from where it stopped. In this case the student ends up getting a little more time to think about the last question he was solving as the staff in the centre will take a couple of minutes to arrange an alternative.

There are a number of good reasons to go for the computer based format. In case you opt for the computer based test, you should take a few practice tests to become thoroughly familiar with the medium. 

In summary, JEE Mains online or offline – is a question which needs to be decided after careful consideration. Do not decide in haste. Take the best course of action suited to you.