PUNE: All eyes are now on the optional Common Entrance Test (CET), which will decide admission to Class XI (first year junior college).
Dinkar Patil, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) chairman, said that the examination was expected to be held on August 21. The Class X results were declared on Friday.
“While CET examination is slated to be held in an offline format, the online application process will start from Monday. The state has already announced that the examination will be based on the board syllabus. We will publish a detailed notification on the main topics which will be covered in the examination by next week. The examination is free for students who have registered for the 2020-21 state board examination. However, students from other boards would need to pay an examination fee of Rs178 to appear for the CET,” said Patil.
The decision to take a CET was taken after the state board decided to cancel Class X board exam for the academic year 2020-21.
The optical mark recognition (OMR)-based single question paper exam will be of two hours’ duration. Based on the state board syllabus, there will be 100 questions of 25 marks each in English, mathematics, science and social studies.
Patil further said that a link would be made available on the MSBSHSE website directing students to a different online portal. “The state board students will be asked about their exam seat numbers and once they submit the data, a window with all their details will open. Students will be asked as to whether they wish to opt for the optional CET examination. Whatever option the student chooses, we will get the data directly. As for the non-state board students, a separate set of instructions will be issued soon,” said Patil.
During the Class XI common admission process, junior colleges will give priority to students who have scored well in the CET. This means that in the first phase of the Class XI admission process, students who have appeared for the CET would be given admission on priority according to merit. After that admissions would be given to students who have not opted for the CET, based on their Class X marks.
Seema Purohit, principal, Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC), advised students seeking to study in top colleges to appear for the CET. “In most renowned colleges, the seats are filled within the first two rounds. Hence, basing expectations on high Class X marks will not be helpful. I think all students must appear for the CET,” said Purohit.
Rajendra Zunjarrao, principal, Modern College of Arts Science and Commerce, however, said that the state education department must take all decisions on time.
“The entrance process should not be delayed, and results displayed on time. The centralised admission process should be implemented in a fixed schedule so that at least the next academic year can start on time. There should be multiple teams working on this in cooperation with others so that everything happens within the time limit,” he said.
