Single test fits all biz schools
The All India Council for Technical Education ( AICTE) has decided to conduct its single entrance test for the MBA programmes next February.Based on the CAT model, the Common Management Admission Test ( CMAT) would be an online test, to be conducted over 15- 20 days.
AICTE chairman S. S. Mantha said the eligibility criteria for the test would be similar to that of CAT, conducted by the 13 IIMs.
Though the exact schedule will be announced by next week, the test is expected to begin around February 10. The three- hour examination — likely to be taken by nearly 2.5 lakh candidates — will have multiple- choice questions to assess quantitative and data interpretation, logical reasoning, general awareness and language comprehension.
The AICTE will make it mandatory for all the recognised institutes to admit students only through CMAT in 2013.
There are around 4,000 institutes offering MBA and another 500 offering AICTE- recognised
recognised management diploma.
“ In 2013, we will make candidate selection mandatory through this test. We hope that the MBA aspirants will then have to appear just for CAT and CMAT,” Mantha said.
The chairman did not answer whether the Management Aptitude Test ( MAT), which is currently taken by over 3.5 lakh students and is the largest Bschool entrance test, would be abolished in 2013. “ We will make it compulsory for our institutes to subscribe to the CMAT score, but I can’t say anything on the fate of MAT right now. The matter is still pending in the court,” he added.
The CMAT has been announced with the intent of reducing the mental and financial stress on the MBA aspirants.
But the idea has not been well received by many business schools and organisations like the Association of Indian Management Schools ( AIMS) and the Society for Promotion of Education in India, which challenged the AICTE’s notification of December 28, 2010. The notification envisaged sweeping changes in the way B- schools conduct their entrance tests and holding a single entrance/ aptitude test for the admissions.
The Supreme Court order of July 26 this year has already allowed private B- schools to continue with the practice of using CAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, and JMET ( though now scrapped) exams for their admissions.
However, the matter is still sub judice.
Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2011. MTNPL. All rights reserved.
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