NTA’s Progressive Steps for Student-Friendly Examinations

NTA has Introduced Five Thoughtful Changes this Year

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has periodically implemented several reforms to make its examination process more transparent, seamless, and student-friendly. In 2025, the NTA has introduced five significant changes to enhance the student examination experience, aligning with modern approaches to education. Let’s understand in detail how these changes will benefit students.

Inclusion of Calculator Facility

In line with the National Education Policy (NEP), the NTA has allowed the use of calculators in examinations. The aim is to encourage students to focus on understanding concepts and logical analysis rather than just calculations.

This practice is already prevalent in American and European education systems. This step will reduce exam stress, and if the difficulty level of the question paper remains the same, average scores may improve. This change is a positive step for both the quality and fairness of education.

New Language Flexibility Feature

A language change option has now been provided in the student profile section. If the meaning of a question is unclear in one language, students can view it in another language. This feature will be particularly helpful for bilingual and regional language-speaking students. This will make the examination more inclusive and student-centric.

Dark Mode for Eye Comfort

Many students complained of eye strain and fatigue during the three-hour-long computer-based examinations. Taking this feedback into account, the NTA has now provided a Dark Mode option. This will reduce screen brightness and provide comfort to students during prolonged reading. This is a commendable and scientifically sound step in the digital examination system.

Use of Magnifier Tool

Mathematical formulas, figures, or symbols sometimes appear small on the screen, making it difficult for students to read them. Keeping this in mind, the NTA has added a Magnifier Tool. This allows students to zoom in on any part and view it clearly. This feature will prove particularly useful for candidates taking science and mathematics exams.

Adjustable Text Size

The NTA has also added the option to increase or decrease the text size on the exam screen. This is the same feature available on most smartphones and computers today. This allows students to adjust the font size according to their preference, which will improve both readability and concentration.

All these initiatives clearly demonstrate that the National Testing Agency (NTA) is continuously innovating in the best interest of the students. Whether it’s technological improvements or features related to language flexibility, the NTA aims to create an examination environment that is modern, inclusive, and student-centric.

Through these progressive steps, the NTA is not only improving the quality of assessment but also empowering students with confidence and a sense of equal opportunity. This transformation is a commendable effort towards making the education system more transparent and accessible.

FAQs on NTA’s Progressive Steps and JEE Main 2026

Question 1. Is a calculator allowed in JEE Main 2026?

Answer – No, physical calculators are not allowed in JEE Main 2026. Candidates must perform all calculations manually during the exam. However, NTA provides an on-screen virtual calculator for specific numerical problems.

Q2. What is the JEE Main virtual calculator feature?
The virtual calculator is an online tool available on the exam screen during the JEE Main computer-based test. It allows students to perform basic arithmetic, trigonometric, and logarithmic calculations without using a physical calculator.

Q3. What are the new JEE computer-based test features introduced by NTA?
NTA has introduced several student-friendly features in the JEE computer-based test, such as:

Enhanced navigation between questions

Timer and progress tracker for better time management

Highlight and review options for marked questions

Improved interface for smoother exam experience

Q4. When will the JEE Main 2026 exam be held?
The JEE Main 2026 is expected to be conducted in two sessions — January and April 2026. The exact dates will be announced by NTA on its official website closer to the exam period.

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Jeewan Jyoti Agarwal

Jeewan Jyoti Agarwal (aka JJ Sir) completed engineering in 1999 and taught maths to IIT JEE aspirants for the last 21 years; thousands of his students joined IITs, NITs, IIITs, and many students joined foreign universities, including MIT. He has chaired numerous motivational and academic enlightenment, knowledge, and career sessions for thousands of students with their parents. JJ Sir has successfully coached & trained hundreds of young science and engineering graduates to become expert faculty. He is managing a robust IIT JEE (Main & Advanced) department at Allen Career Institute. He is also simultaneously working to promote mathematics in teenagers and interested in ancient Indian knowledge.