Students applying for the science stream and commerce stream subjects in Patna University (PU) would have to answer fewer questions on general knowledge and general awareness than their counterparts applying for humanities.

In the science stream paper, there would be 90 questions from science and 10 from general knowledge and general awareness. In humanities, there would be 40 posers from general knowledge and 60 from subject concerned. It was the same in 2014.

In commerce stream, changes have been made in the entrance examination format with 70 questions from subjects concerned, 10 from general knowledge and 20 from general aptitude.

General aptitude has been introduced in the examination format, as it is expected that a student seeking admission in commerce to know about mathematical aptitude and reasoning.

Earlier, admission test papers for all streams used to have 60 questions from the subject concerned and 40 from general knowledge.

PU pro-vice-chancellor Ranjeet Kumar Verma said: "Changes have been made so as to give more stress on subjects concerned and on the demand of senior teachers of different faculties."

Patna Science College principal U.K. Sinha said: "It is expected from a student studying science subjects to know more of his subjects than history, geography and political science and so the changes have been made."

Sources said many teachers and principals of different colleges said the examination change format was required as it was observed that students studying science had less knowledge in their subject concerned.

A teacher of Patna Science College said: "Many students preparing for Intermediate-based competitive examination have got admission in our college by scoring good marks in general awareness and general knowledge though they are not much sound in their subject concerned."

The pattern of entrance test in science stream would be 10 questions from general knowledge, 30 questions each from physics and chemistry and 30 questions from either mathematics or biology.

Even students felt laying stress to subjects concerned would be beneficial for them. Aman Tejaswai, a Class XII student of DAV BSEB, said: "It would help screen good students. A student, who plans to pursue graduation in physics, must know more about physics laws than historical dates."

The sale of application forms for different colleges would start from first week of May.