CHENNAI: Aspirants writing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 on Sunday are a wary lot as most of the coaching they got was online. Experts say many students miss the face-to-face coaching and peer learning and performances could dip this year.
Many coaching centres and schools prepared the students one last time by giving them mock tests on Saturday afternoon, which they wrote wearing masks and gloves. Along with their knowledge and skill, Sunday’s exam is likely to test the endurance of students as the first batch will have to enter exam halls by 10.30am for the 2pm start because of Covid protocols.
From Tamil Nadu 1,10,971 students are scheduled to appear for the exam at 225 exam centres. In Chennai,17,992 students will appear at 33 exam centres.
J S Dharani, a medical aspirant from Ayanavaram, said preparation in online mode was a new experience and difficult. “The coaching institute and school guided us constantly. On a positive note, faculty members were available till 9.30pm to clarify our doubts,” she said.
She said the staggered entry timing and wearing masks for four to five hours inside the exam halls will test the endurance of the students. "We have attended mock tests wearing masks and gloves from 2pm to 5pm. I was comfortable for the first hour, but felt uneasy after that," she said.
Ebenezer Kirubakaran G, an aspirant from Tambaram, said, remembering the concepts was difficult in online mode preparation. He was doing aerobics and wearing masks at home in the past few weeks to prepare for the exam. He said the introduction of choice will help the students. Now students need answer only 180 of the 200 questions.
B Pavan Kumar, deputy director, FIITJEE Chennai, said, lack of peer competition and face-to-face coaching by mentors will impact the performance of mid-level students.
P Prameela, academics director, Narayana Educational Institutions, said, this year students got two to three months offline coaching. "We applied the same kind of coaching system and pattern followed offline to online. But, they have to sit before the system for long hours. Students are a bit strained. But, they are acquainted with online coaching and adjusted better," she said.
