There&’s no knowing the number of apples in a barrel that run the risk of contamination because of a rotten one in the mix, but more than 630,000 students will have to re-sit the All-India Pre-Medical Test on 25 July from 10 am-1pm because of 44 students found employing unfair practices on 3 May. The Supreme Court&’s decision on the issue drew groans from the Central Board of Secondary Education, which indicated the timeframe was inadequate, but a bench of justices RK Agarwal and Amitava Roy, while admitting that a fresh examination schedule would cause inconvenience, said the “impeccable and irrefutable” credibility of examination was “the price the stakeholders would have to suffer”. They said that “the bigger issue is that the sanctity of the examination is under suspicion. We want to be doubly sure that there is no alternative but to order re-conduct of the exam”.

This examination is used to fill over 3,800 coveted medical seats — around 15 per cent of the total — and students fear that the four-week period is not enough to prepare for tough going that involves physics, chemistry and biology. Much like rain affecting rhythm on a sporting field, the tension is palpable in a majority of them, with one of them saying, “I have to study again and this time I don’t know how difficult the papers will be. The pattern was different this year and now a great uncertainty has set in”.

Said another, “Taking the test again adds to the stress we are already in. Most other colleges have either closed admissions or are in the process of counselling.”

As matters stand, candidates will get all the information with regard to the re-test through e-mail and SMS. Details such as examination centre and roll numbers will be sent to them and no new registrations will be entertained. On the day of the exam, they will have to undergo strict body checks before commencement and instructors and the invigilators have been asked to check the ears of all candidates with a torchlight to ensure no communication devices like Bluetooth are carried into the hall. There will be a strict dress code and no jackets will be allowed. The CBSE has also written to the Union home ministry seeking paramilitary forces at the test centres to ensure tight security. Local police are also being deployed at examination centres to maintain decorum and the results will be declared on 17 August.

According to PTI, the CBSE has asked students to come in light clothes without big buttons and in open slippers. Rings, bracelets, earrings, nose pins, pendants and even watches have been barred at the examination centres. “Wear light clothes with half-sleeve shirts, T-shirts, kurtas not having big buttons, brooches or any badges… Wear open slippers and not shoes.” Also barred are mobile phones, earphones, hairbands, belts, caps and scarves. Failure to observe these instructions would lead to students being disallowed from appearing in the exam.

Admit cards have been hosted on the AIPMT website and students have been asked to affix passport size photographs on the downloaded admit cards and get these attested by a gazetted officer or an institution head.