Many AP students prefer offline AIEEE test

WARANGAL/GUNTUR/TIRUPATI: Engineering aspirants from the state were preferring to face any hurdles to appear for offline tests rather than writing the exams online. It was evident on Sunday, with more than 77,000 engineering aspirants  appearing for the offline version of the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) held at Warangal, Guntur and Tirupati notwithstanding the difficulties including travelling, accommodation and other problems to write the exam.Students from the city had to undergo the travails of a 125 km journey to Warangal and inadequate lodging facilities there as there is no centre in the state capital for the offline test.Thousands of students from Hyderabad and surrounding areas descended on Warangal town,the closest centre to Hyderabad, by various modes of transport - buses, trains and even personal vehicles. Similarly, students in coastal Andhra districts chose Guntur and those in Rayalaseema opted for Tirupati centre. While physics questions in the engineering stream were found to be difficult, students claimed that mathematics and chemistry questions were comparatively easier than the previous year. Mistakes were reportedly found in two questions each of mathematics and physics segments. The B.Arch entrance examination is also learnt to have been moderate compared to last year.Students faced hardships in their attempt to write the offline examination with large number of students along with their parents heading to Warangal, Tirupati and Guntur. Some students made prior arrangements to stay in these three towns for two-three days by booking hotels. However, most of the students opted to travel in the early hours of Sunday which led to traffic jams on roads leading to these three towns.“We got stuck up in the traffic jam for more than 30 minutes in Warangal town. Further, we did not know the exact location of the exam centre which caused more problems for us in reaching the venue,” said D Gopal Reddy, parent of a candidate who appeared for the examination. Adding to the woes, several candidates had a difficulty in locating the exam centres. At most places in Warangal, police personnel and the locals helped students reach the exam centres on time. However, several students were delayed for the exam. In Guntur, the officials failed to make proper arrangements like seating and drinking water.In addition, power cuts added to the woes of candidates. Parents staged a dharna at JH College on the outskirts of Guntur as students were forced to write in dim light due to lack of power supply. Many students and their parents complained that there were no proper food facilities.The AIEEE online paper window will open from May 7 to May 26 at 22 select cities allowing candidates to write the examination on their chosen date. The results of the examinations will be declared on or before June 15.