Students appear in IIT examination. File picture

Ranchi, April 14: The mathematics paper was the only hurdle for thousands of IIT aspirants who sat for the entrance examination yesterday.

Tanima Chatterjee, one of the students whose examination centre was at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali, said that the first paper comprising physics, chemistry and mathematics was simple and easy. “But the second paper was quite tough as many students could solve only 10 questions out of 22 in mathematics while others were just making their efforts to finish off within the time limit,” she rued.

Although about 150 students cracked the test — regarded the toughest examination in the world — last year, the number might not go up for the next session.

This year, around 10,000 students appeared in the IIT entrance examination from 11 centres across the state.

Noor Alam, the director of Ambition coaching centre in the city, said that 30 students appeared for the IIT entrance.

“However, many students faced problem in finishing mathematics paper with success,” Alam said.

He added that the examination pattern changes every year so that they can pick up bright students in the IITs.

“According to the rules, two question papers like physics and chemistry were easy but mathematics paper was made tough. This was done to judge the mental quotient of the students. The main criterion of the examination is to select the crème de la crème students,” said the director of the coaching institute.

However, Alam said that even the trend this year was quite different. Less number of students appeared for CBSE medical examination.

“There are limited number of seats in medical and less number of choices for medical examination. So many tried for engineering courses,” said Alam.

R.K. Priyadarshi, the director of another coaching institute, Pen4Future, too said that the paper was quite tough this year. “From our institute, 150 students appeared in the examination,” he said.

About 50 students from Ranchi emerged successful last year after the result of the test was declared.