Even as the JEE (Advanced) 2026 examination is scheduled to be held on Sunday, May 17, the IIT Council has not initiated any move to introduce an adaptive testing format for the high-stakes entrance exam.
According to the minutes of the 56th meeting of the Council of IITs, held on August 25, 2025, at IIT Delhi, the Council had recommended constituting an expert committee to study the feasibility of adaptive testing.
However, no such committee has been formed so far, raising questions over whether any change in the exam pattern will be implemented for the upcoming JEE (Advanced), or if the existing format will continue.
The IIT Council, which is the apex coordination body of the IIT system, is chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and includes directors of all IITs and chairpersons of their Boards of Governors. The meeting was held after a gap of two years.
During the meeting, IIT Kanpur Director Prof Manindra Agrawal raised concerns about the current structure of JEE (Advanced), the growing dominance of the coaching industry, and the emotional and financial pressure faced by students and their families. He said the exam needs to assess critical thinking and reasoning skills better.
According to the minutes, Prof Agrawal proposed a shift towards adaptive testing as a possible way forward.
“This model further reduces coaching dependency, enhances fairness, and allows flexible, secure testing environments,” the minutes stated.
The Council recommended that an expert committee led by the JEE Apex Board (JAB) and IIT Kanpur be constituted to evaluate the adaptive testing proposal, its operational feasibility, and its potential to reduce coaching dependence and exam-related vulnerabilities.
The proposed committee is expected to carry out a systematic analysis of adaptive testing, including its impact on student performance and logistical challenges. However, officials said the committee has yet to be constituted.
The Council also recommended developing a robust tool to generate questions of varying difficulty levels dynamically, ensuring fairness and scalability if adaptive testing is introduced.
Based on the findings of the pilot test and expert analysis, a white paper has been proposed to outline a phased roadmap with clear timelines for transitioning to adaptive testing. The minutes indicate a six-month timeline for completing the evaluation process once the expert committee is formed.
Free Mock Test Suggested Before Exam
The Council also suggested conducting a free, optional mock test around two months before JEE (Advanced), which is usually held in May. The test would help students assess their preparation and allow authorities to collect performance data, which can later be compared with actual exam results.
Last year, over 1.80 lakh candidates appeared for the computer-based JEE (Advanced) examination, with 54,378 students qualifying.
JEE Advanced 2026 Adaptive Test: What You Need To Know
Q. What is adaptive testing in simple terms?
In an adaptive test, the difficulty level of questions changes based on a student’s performance. Candidates who answer correctly get harder questions, while others get simpler ones.
Q. Has the IIT Council approved adaptive testing for JEE (Advanced)?
No. The Council has only recommended studying the idea. It has not approved or implemented adaptive testing.
Q. What did the IIT Council actually recommend?
The Council recommended:
- Forming an expert committee to study adaptive testing.
- Conducting a free, optional adaptive mock test.
- Analysing student performance and logistical challenges.
- Developing a question-generation tool for varying difficulty levels.
- Preparing a white paper with a phased roadmap for future changes.
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Q. Has the expert committee been formed?
No. No expert committee has been constituted so far, even though the recommendation was made in August 2025.
Q. Why was adaptive testing discussed?
Concerns were raised about:
- Heavy dependence on coaching centres.
- Emotional and financial pressure on students and families.
- The need for JEE (Advanced) to better test critical thinking and reasoning skills.
