Will the NEET exam be conducted in person or online?

NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam has always been conducted in the offline or pen and paper format. In retrospect, the NEET exam was always meant to be a pen-and-paper test. However, with the occurrence of the recent set of events, including COVID, Social Distancing, and the upscale of technological advancements; there was a cloud of doubt lurking over the nature of the examination. If they would be conducted online or offline. In this article, we talk about all these questions and let you know exactly what is planned.

Why the doubt?

The NEET examination has been conducted in a pen and paper format, since its very inception. The major reason for this is its anti-cheating concerns and to conduct the test in a fair and square manner. However, with COVID, all of this changed. In fact, the examination was postponed twice, before being finally held on the 13th of September. There were major doubts looming over the method of the examination, once it was reinstated. Especially with the new COVID protocols in place.

What has been decided?

In the wake of COVID, the NTA decided to expand its examination centers to accommodate the COVID restrictions. The sanitary condition of the examination centers was drastically improved. The exam, however, was still held in person, i.e, in pen and paper format abiding by its general procedure. Thus, while the NTA (National Testing Agency) has made claims to conduct Computer Based Tests (CBT) for all National Examinations, this is still a far-fetched idea. Rest assured, for now, the examinations will be conducted in person.

The same is followed across multiple NEET Coaching Institutes in Bangalore and across the country. This is to simulate the exact examination environment and give the aspirants a proper mock examination.

What does this mean for the aspirants?

There was a lot of confusion and chaos about the nature and if the exams would be conducted at all or not, during COVID. Those confusions have since been cleared and resolved. What we understand now is that the examinations will be held in person, with proper COVID protocols in place. This means that the aspirants will have to undergo the same procedure, as before COVID, adhering to the COVID protocols. This would mean they would need to be vaccinated and would have to practice social distancing while at the examination centers.

How to prepare?

While there is little that will prepare any aspirant to take up the examination, there are quite a few things, any aspirants can do to re-create the scenario at an exam center. For instance, mock tests and test series conducted at Institutes across Bangalore can be a good way to practice and let go of all the nerves. There are many coaching centers in Bangalore, like, Parishrama NEET Academy, Aakash Byju’s, and Allen, that help prepare students for the real deal.