New Delhi : The reformed joint entrance examination (JEE) system of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has proven beneficial for the first timers, as more than 43 percent of the candidates could clear the exam in first attempt.

According to a statement of the ministry of human resource development (HRD) released Thursday, as many as 2,99,288 candidates registered for JEE-2006 as against 1,98,059 last year - an increase of about 51 percent.

"This increase could be attributed to the reforms made in the conduct of these examinations. The number of candidates qualified in their first attempt is 2,761, which is 43.5 per cent of the total number of qualified candidates," said the statement. Last year, 28.49 percent were first timers.

The participation of female candidates also increased from 29,291 in 2005 to 58,997 this year, as entrance fee for them was halved, it said.

The reforms also helped students from small towns and villages to get through their dream institutions, it added.

While 4,400 students from cities qualified the exam, the numbers of those from towns and villages stood at 1,328 and 615 respectively.

The statement said the changes introduced in the examination system had reduced the stress level of the students.

Last year, the ministry had set up a special task force (STF) to review the test system.

The STF decided to count school results and do away with the screening test. It set the eligibility at 60 percent or above in Class 12 exams and required candidates to appear for the test the year they pass the school exam or the following year.

For students belonging to weaker sections, it provided for a relaxation of five percent in Class 12 marks.

The announcement of the new system witnessed widespread protests from students, teachers and even some IIT professors across the country.

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