VISAKHAPATNAM: The candidates who appeared for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) based on which admissions to medicine courses will be done in the state had faced a hard time after they were told to remove all the jewellery before entering into the exam halls, on Sunday.
Despite being instructed to wear light colour clothes and avoid jewellery, the candidates said that they were unaware of the dos and don’ts as they were appearing for the test for the first time.
Of the 19 exam centres in Vizag, the candidates at many centres were asked remove all the jewellery including chains, earrings, bracelets at the gate itself. They were not allowed to wear watches too.
“With some candidates refusing to remove the jewellery, they were forced to do so. The authorities told us that we would not be allowed to enter the exam centre, unless we complied with the instructions. They (authorities) were very rigid,” Swathi, a candidate told Express, at a centre at Malkapuram in Vizag.
Of the 10,651 candidates who had applied for the exam, 10,138 turned at the exam centres, with an attendance of 95.18 per cent.
Many students found Botany and Zoology papers easy and Chemistry paper moderate. But they said that Physics paper was very tough.
However, the candidates said that facilities at the centres were good. But, two centres in the vicinity created confusion among many as the candidates resorted to last-minute run.
“There was a confusion between the exam centres at Nausena Bagh and Malkapuram, as both venues are side by side. Many candidates, confused over the centres, rushed to the exact venue in the last minute,” said another candidate.
Aadhaar card norm adds to confusion
The Aadhaar cards created some confusion too. “The security personnel at the gate told us there was no need of identity cards, so we handed over the Aadhaar cards to our parents. But, the invigilator insisted us to produce the identity document in the exam hall. Many candidates rushed back to get them mid-exam,” Swathi said.