JEE-2018 questions similar to 2016 coaching-center test: Coincidence or connivance?
Days after the JEE-Main 2018, that will decide the fate of 10.43L engineering aspirants, students have reported that several questions in different sets were exactly similar to those included in a 2016 mock test by the Narayana IIT Academy coaching-center. Even the figures in the questions and the options given were similar in some cases. But many feel it could be just a coincidence.
Seven questions of Physics Set-B similar to 2016 paper
A post in CisTheta Global has uploaded images of the 2016 Mains Model Paper by Narayana, claiming question 25 of Physics Set-B in JEE-2018 is similar to question 1 in the mock paper. Similarly, question 16 is question 6; question 22 is question 7; question 23 is question 5; question 28 is question 2; and question 30 is question 8.
Another eight questions of Set-C raise eyebrows
TOI quoted students as complaining that eight questions in Physics Set-C, namely questions 64, 67, 77, 78, 81, 83, 86 and 87, were also similar to the 2016 Narayana paper. There are four sets in the JEE Main, and the prime difference is in changed order of questions and options with no other significant distinction.
Other coaching centers demand probe into the matter
Responding to the matter, Narayana spokesperson Srinath said similar questions are available in several textbooks. Its IIT Coordinator Ashok Veda accused miscreants of "doctor(ing) our question paper to malign our image." But other coaching centers are upset. "We are asking our students to complain to CBSE. I am personally going to write to HRD minister Prakash Javadekar," said Vinay Kumar, CEO, Rao IIT Academy.
CBSE, twice bitten in recent times
CBSE, which is just recovering from a massive debacle over the Class 10 Math and Class 12 Economics paper leaks, said it has been alerted about the issue. "We are awaiting a statement from the director," Public Relations Officer Rama Sharma said.
What are the chances of it being a coincidence?
Many senior teachers said this could be a coincidence as the questions were quite common. One possibility was these questions appeared in earlier papers, and Narayana picked them up from available resources. This has happened in several exams till now, teachers said. "Lots of such questions are found in the question banks prepared by various institutes," said M. Srikanth, Director of Hyderabad's Delta Academy.
But even a coincidence might leave the CBSE red-faced
However, in this case, it would mean CBSE took those questions from other resources instead of setting new questions for what is widely considered the toughest exam in India. 10.43L candidates appeared the JEE-Main 2018, of which 2.24L will be shortlisted for Advanced.
