NEET PG 2024 in two shifts; students in doubt, question fairness in ranking

NEW DELHI: The National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will conduct the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test postgraduate (NEET PG 2024) on August 11. As per the official notice, the NEET PG 2024 exam will be held in two shifts. This decision has sparked a wave of concerns and discontent among aspiring medical students.

Many aspirants criticise the decision to conduct the NEET PG 2024 exam in two shifts. One aspirant expressed dismay over social media, stating, " Two shifts in a theory exam is very unfair. They can never be of equal level. When exams like JEE are not able to maintain the same difficulty level in all its sessions which is a conceptual exam. Then how can NEET PG which is a fact-based exam have the same level in 2 shifts.”

Aspirants have raised concerns about normalisation if the exam pattern varies between shifts. The NBEMS has not specified the ranking process for the NEET PG 2024 exam. Questioning the clarity on normalisation, an aspirant posted on X “Will there be normalisation or percentile-based ranking? Otherwise, two shift examination is unfair because two papers will vary in difficulty.”

In response to the announcement, one student expressed frustration, stating, " Absolutely appalled by the recent decision to conduct NEET PG in two shifts on 11th August. How can we ensure fairness in ranking when the exam is split into different slots? Seems completely unfair for serious PG aspirants! The lack of clarity and foresight is unacceptable! NEET PG aspirants have many doubts regarding "Two Shifts"."

Also read NEET PG exam date 2024 announced; to be held on August 11 in two shifts

Concerns about normalisation

“Why every important thing is declared by NBEMS AT LAST MINUTE?!! Be it Pattern Change, Preponement, Postponement and now 2 shifts?! The paper will be leaked by RECALLS again so how will that be ensured?! If 2 diff papers being given, how is that fair?! WHY LAST MOMENT?!,” an aspirant posted on X.

With just weeks until the exam date, students are seeking more transparency and assurance from NBEMS regarding the uniformity of the exam process. Emphasising uncertainties about question standardisation, normalisation procedures, and post-exam changes in the pattern another aspirant posted on X “ How this will help in making the examination system robust in comparison of one shift? Questions will be different or the same for all candidates in both shifts? (Without a time gap between 2 shifts). Candidates have to appear in both shifts or one shift?. How normalisation will work if candidates have to appear in one shift and questions will be different in both shifts? After the declaration of examination, can the exam pattern be changed?”