Birla Institute of Technology and Science Aptitude Test (BITSAT) is conducted for the admissions in the campuses of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) at Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad. Almost all the candidates who appear for BITSAT sit for the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) as well, which makes the former more competitive than the latter. This article will throw light on the commonalities and the differences between JEE Main and BITSAT which will help the candidates to prepare well for both the examinations simultaneously.
Birla Institute of Technology and Science Aptitude Test (BITSAT) is conducted for the admissions in the campuses of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) at Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad. Almost all the candidates who appear for BITSAT sit for the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) as well, which makes the former more competitive than the latter. This article will throw light on the commonalities and the differences between JEE Main and BITSAT which will help the candidates to prepare well for both the examinations simultaneously.
Birla Institute of Technology and Science Aptitude Test (BITSAT) is conducted for the admissions in the campuses of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) at Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad. Almost all the candidates who appear for BITSAT sit for the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) as well, which makes the former more competitive than the latter. This article will throw light on the commonalities and the differences between JEE Main and BITSAT which will help the candidates to prepare well for both the examinations simultaneously.
The Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) is the first of the two stages of JEE Advanced, a national-level entrance examination. JEE Main serves as a gateway for admission into National Institutes of Technology (NITs) Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and government-funded technical institutions (GFTIs). JEE Main is written by students who intend to study engineering, basic sciences or architecture in some of the top colleges of the country. It also serves as a screening stage for JEE Advanced which is a gateway for admission in the undergraduate (BTech) and integrated postgraduate (BTech-MTech) programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency and JEE Advanced by one of the IITs each year, under the aegis of the Joint Admission Board (JAB). In 2021, the organising institute for JEE Advanced was IIT Kharagpur and for 2022, it will be IIT Bombay.
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BITSAT is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science for admission to undergraduate and integrated postgraduate programmes such as BE, BPharma, and Integrated MSc at BITS Pilani and other campuses. In this article the comparison is done only for BE programmes.
The JEE Main pattern was modified recently and numerical answer questions (questions having no options and numerical value of answer has to be entered in the input box using an on-screen keyboard) have been introduced in the examination.
In JEE Main, there are a total of 90 questions in which students have to attempt 75 questions in 3 hours. The JEE Main has three subjects:
Physics
Chemistry
Maths
JEE Main contains two sections for every subject. Section 1 contains 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) while Section 2 contains 10 Numerical response questions out of which only 5 have to be attempted.
BITSAT is a three-hour long examination with a total of 150 questions. There are four sections in the paper:
Physics
Chemistry
Logical Reasoning and English Proficiency
Maths or Biology
A student appearing for the BITSAT examination has to choose between Biology and Mathematics for the last section. There are 40 questions on Physics; 40 on Chemistry; 10 on Logical Reasoning and 15 questions on English Proficiency; and 45 questions on Maths or Biology.
The BITSAT paper also includes 12 bonus questions. These additional questions can be attempted only after the candidate has attempted all the 150 questions. If a candidate opts for the bonus questions, he/she cannot edit the answers to the first 150 questions. No extra time is given for attempting the bonus questions.
Almost all who want to score 350 or higher on the BITSAT — necessary for a seat in Computer Science in any of the BITS — (CS in any of the BITS) attempt the 12 bonus questions. These 12 additional questions are only available after you've completed the main part.
There are four bonus questions each in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths or Biology.
Both JEE Main and BITSAT exams are now computer-based. Candidates have to write them at designated exam centres. JEE Main was held twice in the years 2019 and 2020 and four times in 2021 and the best score out of the attempts was taken into consideration for the merit or rank list. BITSAT is organized only once a year.
While JEE Main is for admission in government engineering colleges, central and also for several states. BITSAT is only for the various campuses of one of the private colleges in India.
Over 10.48 lakh candidates registered for the four sessions of JEE Main in 2021 and about 9.39 lakh appeared in the examination. The total number of seats that are filled directly through JEE Main or via the JEE Advanced is roughly 52,453 seats, including the 16,232 in IITs and 36,221 in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and the rest. In comparison, BITSAT 2019 attracted around 2 lakh aspirants who competed for around 2000 seats.
The level of difficulty of JEE Main is higher than that of BITSAT since the questions in JEE Main are more concept-based. However, the BITSAT contains more questions and its candidates are usually more pressed for time.
The marking schemes are also different. In JEE Main, each correct answer fetches 4 marks and each wrong answer leads to the candidate losing one mark in negative marking. In BITSAT, each correct answer fetches 3 marks and each incorrect answer leads to the docking of one mark in negative marking.
In the case of JEE Main, the paper and solution are published on the official website for students to examine. Students can also ask for a review of the answer key once it has been posted on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. In the case of BITSAT, the scores are displayed immediately once the exam is over.
BITSAT questions are easier than JEE Main and require recollection of the appropriate formulae. The questions asked in JEE Main are more conceptual and require deep knowledge of concepts and techniques.So, a student preparing for JEE Main can easily appear for the BITSAT exam as well. The major difference in the syllabus of the two exams is the presence of English Proficiency and Logical Reasoning in the BITSAT.
Given below are comparisons of questions in the two exams by subject.
Syllabus Comparison
The syllabus for Physics is almost the same for BITSAT and JEE Main except that the chapters Communication Systems and Experimental Lab Skills are present in JEE Main but absent in BITSAT. All remaining chapters from Class 11 and Class 12 Physics textbooks of the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) are relevant to both the examinations. Students preparing for BITSAT and appearing for JEE Main should prepare these topics well.
Weightage Comparison
For BITSAT, focus more on Mechanics as a huge percentage of the questions are from that topic. Topics such as Modern Physics, Current, Optics, and Electrostatics also claim considerable weightage. One should refer to a good reference book for Physics to get a good grip over the concepts and formulae.
Following is the detailed chapter wise comparison between the two exams.
Physics - Class 11 NCERT | JEE Main | BITSAT |
Units And Measurements | ✔ | ✔ |
Motion In A Straight Line | ✔ | ✔ |
Motion In A Plane | ✔ | ✔ |
Laws Of Motion | ✔ | ✔ |
Work, Energy And Power | ✔ | ✔ |
System Of Particles And Rotational Motion | ✔ | ✔ |
Gravitation | ✔ | ✔ |
Mechanical Properties Of Solids | ✔ | ✔ |
Mechanical Properties Of Fluids | ✔ | ✔ |
Thermal Properties Of Matter | ✔ | ✔ |
Thermodynamics | ✔ | ✔ |
Kinetic Theory | ✔ | ✔ |
Oscillations | ✔ | ✔ |
Waves | ✔ | ✔ |
Physics - Class 12 NCERT | JEE Main | BITSAT |
Electric Charges And Fields | ✔ | ✔ |
Electrostatic Potential And Capacitance | ✔ | ✔ |
Current Electricity | ✔ | ✔ |
Moving Charges And Magnetism | ✔ | ✔ |
Magnetism And Matter | ✔ | ✔ |
Electromagnetic Induction | ✔ | ✔ |
Alternating Current | ✔ | ✔ |
Electromagnetic Waves | ✔ | ✔ |
Ray Optics And Optical Instruments | ✔ | ✔ |
Wave Optics | ✔ | ✔ |
Dual Nature Of Radiation And Matter | ✔ | ✔ |
Atoms | ✔ | ✔ |
Nuclei | ✔ | ✔ |
Semiconductor Electronics | ✔ | ✔ |
Communication Systems | ✔ | ✖ |
Experimental Skills | ✔ | ✖ |
Syllabus Comparison
The Chemistry syllabus of both exams includes all the topics and chapters included in NCERT textbooks of Classes 11 and 12. The chapter Stereochemistry is present in BITSAT but absent from JEE Main. The level of questions asked in the examinations may vary as questions in JEE Main require more conceptual strength and BITSAT require more application of formulae.
Weightage Comparison
In BITSAT, Organic Chemistry has a good weightage followed by Inorganic Chemistry. Some additional topics such as Biomolecules, Chemistry in Everyday Life, and Metallurgy should be studied in depth.
In the following table the detailed syllabus comparison between the two exams are mentioned.
Chemistry - Class 11 NCERT | JEE Main | BITSAT |
Some Basic Concepts Of Chemistry | ✔ | ✔ |
Structure Of Atom | ✔ | ✔ |
Classification Of Elements And Periodicity In Properties | ✔ | ✔ |
Chemical Bonding And Molecular Structure | ✔ | ✔ |
States Of Matter | ✔ | ✔ |
Thermodynamics | ✔ | ✔ |
Equilibrium | ✔ | ✔ |
Redox Reactions | ✔ | ✔ |
Hydrogen | ✔ | ✔ |
The s - Block Elements | ✔ | ✔ |
The p - Block Elements | ✔ | ✔ |
Organic Chemistry Some Basic Principles And Techniques | ✔ | ✔ |
Hydrocarbons | ✔ | ✔ |
Environmental Chemistry | ✔ | ✔ |
Chemistry - Class 12 NCERT | JEE Main | BITSAT |
Solid States | ✔ | ✔ |
Solutions | ✔ | ✔ |
Electrochemistry | ✔ | ✔ |
Chemical Kinetics | ✔ | ✔ |
Surface Chemistry | ✔ | ✔ |
General Principle And Processes Of Isolation Of Elements | ✔ | ✔ |
The p-Block Elements | ✔ | ✔ |
The d-And f-Block Elements | ✔ | ✔ |
Coordination Compounds | ✔ | ✔ |
Haloalkanes And Haloarenes | ✔ | ✔ |
Alcohols, Phenols And Ethers | ✔ | ✔ |
Aldehydes, Ketones And Carboxylic Acids | ✔ | ✔ |
Amines | ✔ | ✔ |
Biomolecules | ✔ | ✔ |
Polymers | ✔ | ✔ |
Chemistry In Everyday Life | ✔ | ✔ |
Syllabus Comparison
A few chapters such as Linear Programming, Mathematical modeling and Linear Inequalities are not included in the JEE Main syllabus but are asked in BITSAT.
Weightage Comparison
Students should focus on Calculus, Complex Numbers, Statistics, Vectors, and Trigonometry as these chapters and topics constitute a large section of the Mathematics section of BITSAT.
In the following table, the detailed chapter wise compassion is being done.
Maths - Class 11 NCERT | JEE Main | BITSAT |
Sets | ✔ | ✔ |
Relations And Functions | ✔ | ✔ |
Trigonometric Functions | ✔ | ✔ |
Principle Of Mathematical Induction | ✔ | ✔ |
Complex Numbers And Quadratic Equations | ✔ | ✔ |
Linear Inequalities | ✖ | ✔ |
Permutations And Combinations | ✔ | ✔ |
Binomial Theorem | ✔ | ✔ |
Sequence And Series | ✔ | ✔ |
Straight Lines | ✔ | ✔ |
Conic Sections | ✔ | ✔ |
Introduction To Three Dimensional Geometry | ✔ | ✔ |
Limits And Derivatives | ✔ | ✔ |
Mathematical Reasoning | ✔ | ✔ |
Statistics | ✔ | ✔ |
Probability | ✔ | ✔ |
Maths - Class 12 NCERT | JEE Main | BITSAT |
Relations And Functions | ✔ | ✔ |
Inverse Trigonometric Functions | ✔ | ✔ |
Matrices | ✔ | ✔ |
Determinants | ✔ | ✔ |
Continuity And Differentiability | ✔ | ✔ |
Application Of Derivatives | ✔ | ✔ |
Integrals | ✔ | ✔ |
Application Of Integrals | ✔ | ✔ |
Differential Equations | ✔ | ✔ |
Vector Algebra | ✔ | ✔ |
Three Dimensional Geometry | ✔ | ✔ |
Linear Programming | ✖ | ✔ |
Probability | ✔ | ✔ |
Yes, studying for JEE Main is sufficient for BITSAT. The syllabi of both exams are nearly the same as that of Class 11 and Class 12 Science stream.
The sole distinction to be kept in mind during JEE and BITSAT preparation is the pattern of question papers. The candidate should extensively practice questions from different reference books. Practicing mock question papers will familiarise a student with different types of questions, the marking method, and significant themes. A decent grasp of English and logical reasoning are required for the BITSAT.
A good BITSAT score of 350 out of 450 (80%) is considered satisfactory. In 2020, 372 was the cutoff for B.E. Computer Science in Pilani campus. The pattern for JEE Main has altered significantly, and marks scored Vs rank obtained data for 2019, 2020 are not available. However, in 2018 and earlier, a score of 216 out of 360 (60 percent) would have fetched you a general category Computer Science Engineering seat in one of the top 10 NITs.
BITSAT consists of more questions to be attempted within three hours, which makes it more of a speed test. One must attempt mock test papers for both the exams as their paper patterns are different. Students should follow accuracy and time management practices to perform better in the examinations. Prepare a strategy of attempting the paper in an order that suits you and helps you in maximizing the score.
Some suggestions are:
a) Make a study timetable and stick to it
b) Study the concepts thoroughly from NCERT books
c) Use good reference books to gain knowledge and practise problems
d) Do regular self-study and analyze your strengths and weaknesses
e) Make revision notes so that it is easier to revise the concepts just before the examination
f) Prepare English and Logical Reasoning for BITSAT as the other subjects are also covered in JEE Main syllabus.
g) Attempt mock tests
h) Improve time management skills
i) Prepare a strategy to attempt the paper.
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