Engineering Entrance Exams: AIEEE History

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) from 2002 until 2013 for entrance to pharmacy, engineering, and architecture programmes. The most important thing to know about the test is that it no longer exists. While you may encounter articles about the AIEEE entrance exam, India’s testing authorities discontinued it in 2013, and it’s now the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. 

Testing agencies reworked the AIEEE to reduce pressure, increase inclusivity, and optimise candidates' experiences in the classroom and the work world. If you’re curious about how AIEEE started and when it ended, continue reading to explore what the AIEEE was, why the NTA discontinued it, and which exams you should take to enter into an engineering programme. 

What is AIEEE?

The AIEEE test was widely taken between 2002 and 2013. It assessed candidates’ abilities and knowledge for entrance to engineering, architecture, and pharmacy programmes. Roughly 30 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and several other Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) used it in their admissions process. 

Why was the AIEEE discontinued?

For decades, India also offered the IIT-Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), which, like the AIEEE, was a difficult test, and you would typically need to spend several months studying mathematics and science to do well. Thus, it got complicated for students to study for both tests and do well. Taking the IIT-JEE and the AIEEE tests was also a financial burden. Advanced students would often take multiple tests, and the cost and study time increased quickly for recent graduates. 

Discontinuing the AIEEE in place of the JEE Main allowed institutes to mainstream the examination required to enter an engineering or related discipline and reduce the student burden. The JEE Main is now a prerequisite for the JEE Advanced, the reworked version of IIT-JEE.

What is the difference between the JEE Main and the AIEEE?

The AIEEE exam is now a component of the JEE Main examination. Originally, the IIT-JEE and AIEEE exams were both entrance exams before being reworked to create the JEE Main and JEE Advanced examinations in 2013. IIT-JEE was an exam for specific institutions, and you had to take the AIEEE for others. For instance, IIT-JEE was the mandatory test for getting into the Indian Institutes of Technology. At the same time, AIEEE was the exam for getting into the National Institutes of Technology and other institutions.

Today, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the JEE Main. It is now a joint exam, eliminating the need for different tests for different IITs. Students often studied for and paid fees for both when the two existed.  Taking additional tests also meant students divided study times, which could result in lower scores versus focused preparation for one test. The additional cost was also a burden for students who may have struggled to pay for one exam. As the test is a government test, it’s not intended to make a profit or create additional financial burdens.

What subjects did the AIEEE test?

The AIEEE tested students in physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Physics topics typically covered the laws of motion, work, and rotational motion. The exam also required knowledge of chemistry-related topics like chemical kinetics, surface chemistry, and chemical bonding. Mathematics requires proficiency with complex numbers, sets, integral calculus, functions, and relations. The exam also included an aptitude section.

You were also expected to use your analytical reasoning abilities. Candidates could do one or two papers for the AIEEE exam. The first paper was for candidates for BTech and BE courses, and the second focused on candidates for BArch courses. Thus, before selecting which paper you wanted to take, you needed to consider your desired academic and career path. For instance, if you knew an architecture career wasn’t in your future, you could skip taking the second paper.

How was the test administered?

Learners could only take the AIEEE as a paper-based test until the last few years it was available. Candidates wishing to take the test online had to submit their applications online. Both the paper and online seats were limited. As the JEE Main is today, the AIEEE exam was highly competitive, and you had to apply as early as possible. Completing your class 12 education was also necessary before qualifying for the exam. 

Note: If you want to take the JEE Main or any college admissions test, verifying that you have met all the exam requirements is important. You should also ensure you prepare beforehand, increasing the odds you’ll do well with the allotted test-taking time limit—you must complete the 90 questions within three hours. Also, verify you selected the correct testing facility to avoid a long commute. 

What was the admissions process after the test?

After each AIEEE exam, the AIEEE Board created a results-based merit list. Students who made a list received an offer for counseling services. Those counselling sessions provided the final offer for admission and an opportunity to choose a study programme based on the learner’s interests. 

Take your next steps

AIEEE technically no longer exists but is part of the JEE Main. You can learn about AIEEE as history, but look at resources that discuss JEE Main for test preparation and application advice. JEE Main is amongst India’s popular engineering programme entrance exams, along with the BITSAT, required for entry to the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, and the VITEEE, required for entry to the Vellore Institute of Technology's programmes. 

Get started with Coursera

To prepare for the JEE Main examination, you should build a solid physics, chemistry, and mathematics foundation. Consider reviewing fundamentals and enhancing your knowledge with courses and Specialisations offered by leading universities and institutions on Coursera. 

For example, you might start with the Introduction to Biology: Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity Specialisation from Rice University or the Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios course from Duke University. Whatever you choose, broadening your knowledge base and sharpening your skills can help you work towards achieving a top score.