Post Results, NEET-UG 2024 Re-Test Takers Say 'Worried' If They Will Get A Seat At Top Govt Colleges

While a few ponder on taking a gap year to score better, others who scored lower than what they had got originally are worried over getting a seat at a good government medical college a day after the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the results to the re-test of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024. The exam was conducted for 1,563 candidates, who were previously allotted grace marks to compensate for time lost at the exam centres on May 5.

For a 17-year-old from Haryana’s Jhajjar, whose revised score has fallen below the original one where grace marks were given, the struggle is not if they would get admission, but that the dream of grabbing a seat at a top government college might not be fulfilled with this score.

“My ambition was to get into AIIMS, Delhi, but I know I won’t be able to get it now. I am considering if I should drop this year and prepare again for the exam next year, even as, my family believes that if not AIIMS, I may get admission to another good government college,” the student said not wishing to be identified.

A score of 700 or above is required for entry into AIIMS Delhi. A score of 600 and above can get one admission to other top-ranking government colleges.

The NEET-UG counselling process through which seats are allotted to students in different medical colleges is set to begin on July 6. This is despite several petitions filed in the Supreme Court to either defer the counselling schedule or scrap the exam.

Students Worried After Change in Scores

Most affected students and parents have been worried, unwilling to speak on the issue due to change in scores and the uncertainty that surrounds the NEET results and admissions this year. The exam has been embroiled in a controversy that refuses to die with new developments of leaks and those involved in it merging every other day as part of the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter.

The parents of another student from Haryana who took the re-test held on June 23 said that they were worried if their son would be able to secure a seat at a government college. They will sit through the counselling process and thereupon decide if another attempt is required.

“There is a significant difference in the revised score than the original score. We will wait and watch once the counseling for admissions starts,” the student’s father said.

According to the re-test results announced by the NTA, none of the 813 of the 1,563 candidates who appeared for it on June 23, got a perfect score of 720/720, bringing down the tally of toppers from 67 to 61. This includes those six candidates from the same Haryana exam centre, who had got full marks in the exam previously conducted on May 5.

Re-test Held at 7 Centres

The total 1,563 candidates identified for the re-test were from six different exam centres across the country, who had complained to the NTA after the exam on May 5 that they did not get the scheduled duration (3 hours and 20 minutes) to write the exam due to various administrative reasons including distribution of a wrong set of question papers at a few centres. These candidates were allotted grace marks in the original score cards.

After the re-test on June 23, the NTA has issued revised score cards to those who sat for it. There are a few whose score cards have improved over the original exam as well, the agency said.

The re-test was held at seven exam centres across Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Meghalaya.

Those students who did not opt for the re-test will be given their original scores without the grace marks, said NTA officials.

NEET-UG in Online Mode Soon?

According to officials, there are talks going on to consider conducting NEET-UG in the online mode from next year. “Things are at a very primary stage. It will depend on what the panel says in its report,” said an official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Last month, the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) had set up a seven-member high-level panel to review the functioning of the NTA and recommend changes to conduct fool-proof exams. The committee set up in June 21 is to come out with its report within two months from then.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.