IITs Plan Student-Friendly JEE Advanced; Adaptive Testing Proposed, Ability-Based Evaluation

Garima Content Writer

Content Writer | Updated On - Jan 7, 2026

The IIT Council is considering adaptive testing for JEE Advanced to make the exam more student-friendly and focused on evaluating candidates based on their actual ability rather than coaching-based preparation.

IITs Plan Adaptive Testing for JEE Advanced

The IIT Council, which is the top decision-making body for all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), has recommended major changes to the JEE Advanced exam to make it more student-friendly, fairer, and less stressful. These ideas emerged from the Council’s 56th meeting held after a two-year gap.

Adaptive Questions That Change as You Answer

The Council has proposed something called “adaptive testing” for future JEE Advanced exams. The proposal was discussed during a recent meeting of the IIT Council, chaired by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education. In this system:

Questions would change in real time based on how well a student performs.
If a student answers correctly, the next questions will become slightly tougher.
If a student struggles, the test would adjust to easier or medium-level questions.

This is different from the current format, where every student gets the same set of questions. The idea is to create a system that measures a student’s true understanding and thinking skills, not just how well they have been coached.

Reducing Stress and Coaching Dependence

According to the Council’s meeting records, many experts feel the present JEE Advanced format leads to excessive pressure on students and makes them rely heavily on coaching classes. The adaptive system could:

Reduce stress on students
Reward critical thinking more than memorised tricks
Make the test fairer for all students, regardless of coaching access or background.

Pilot Test First

Before fully introducing adaptive testing, the Council wants to run an optional adaptive mock test for students before the real exam. The results from this pilot will help decide how to implement the new system in phases.

Other Related Education Reforms

The Council didn’t just talk about the entrance exam. It also approved broad reforms in higher technical education:

The IIT Council approved major MTech reforms, including mandatory industry internships and dual-track programmes focused on industry and research.
PhD education to move towards product-focused and mission-oriented research.
More emphasis on AI and machine learning in teaching and curriculum.
A stronger focus on student mental health support across IIT campuses.

Will This Change the Exam Right Away?

No official change to the JEE Advanced pattern has been made for the 2026 exam scheduled on May 17, 2026. The adaptive testing plan is still under study and expert review. A committee led by IIT Kanpur and the JEE Apex Board (JAB) will decide if and how these changes can be implemented.

So, students preparing for JEE Advanced 2026 should continue with the current exam pattern until an official announcement is made.

What Students Should Do Now?

Keep preparing as per the existing syllabus and pattern for JEE Advanced 2026. If the adaptive mock test is announced, take it to understand how adaptive questions feel. Focus on conceptual understanding, logical reasoning, and problem solving, as these skills will only help if adaptive testing is introduced.

Candidates are advised to check the official website of JEE Advanced (@jeeadv.ac.in) and collegedunia.com for the latest updates.