CET is the only ticket to engineering from 2013!!

As the year 2013 approaches, it is anticipated to bring along a big change in the life of the students aspiring to take up engineering! By 2013, there will only be one single examination for entrance to engineering colleges in the country. The plan to have CET for engineering from 2013 for all engineering colleges means creating a test on the lines of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) conducted in the United States. Gradually, such an exam would be extended for entry to colleges of other disciplines, such as law.

In the present scenario, each state conducts separate entrance tests for admissions to engineering courses while the IITs and NITs have separate tests. Students have to undergo multiple entrance tests for engineering admissions like

• IITJEE
• AIEEE
• VITEEE

To implement CET form 2013, the government had set up a commission under Secretary to the department of science and technology and for that T Ramasami, will examine all the facts and will help in implementation of the test. Ramasami has also been asked to finalize six options which were pondered upon for the test.

Alogwith CET, another latest buzz has been regarding the nod of the council to four-fold fee hike (from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh) at the IITs. Upon entry and during study period, a student would have to pay the existing Rs 50,000 annual fee. The balance Rs 1.5 lakh will be recovered later when he gets employed. ST's and OBC's are exempted from paying back the balance amount.

The test will stress on.....

According to Sibal, an all-India merit list will be prepared on the basis of combined weightage given to:

• Class XII exam
• Common test

The test will assess a candidate's logical and analytical abilities and not subject knowledge. He said weightage would be given to the marks obtained in class XII boards after the results are equalised for which Indian Statistical Institute will put in place a mathematical formula for equalisation.

Is it really an apt move??

According to the union HRD minister Kapil Sibal efforts are being made to hold an All-India national test from 2013 as this will help in smoothening the admission process into engineering courses. The student stress levels climb up in the final years of school and peak as they go through multiple admission tests. Some entrances test the ability to apply principles of science while others are purely objective type but with negative marking for incorrect answers. Some use computers while others use machine readable answer sheets with correct answers to be blackened with an HB pencil. The biggest stress factor for a general category student is that only 45 percent of the total seats are available to him, the rest being reserved seats.

There is no doubt regarding the fact that a common test reduces the burden of students. CET is sure to de-stress the students as they will not end up writing the exams repeatedly. Candidates are often in a fix while sitting for numerous entrances. The dates of these exams often clash leaving the students in a dilemma as to in which exam they should appear. Furthermore, the cost of applying in various entrances is also exorbitant.

The move might prove to be dicey!!

Students, no doubt can heave a sigh of relief as CET is sure to reduce their stress level by a great extent. But hold on!! Do not forget that now; this is the only exam which is the deciding factor of your future life! It is the only ticket to your career in engineering.

The test is likely to have an adverse effect on colleges/Deemed universities who conduct their own entrance exams. Although CET is surely a boon for students, but it has certain weak aspects too.

When you depend wholly and solely on one exam there can be chances of occurrence of some unfortunate events.

If you are not able to give your best shot on the very day, it is a lost chance as there's no retake!!

Source: Latika Leekha (Shiksha Team)