CATE likely to be discontinued this year under the four-year-undergraduate degree course

Updated on: Friday, April 19, 2013

The Common Aptitude Test for English (CATE), based on which 21 Delhi University colleges conduct admissions to BA English (honours) course, is likely to be discontinued this year under the four-year-undergraduate degree course. The university is planning to conduct admissions to the course on the basis of Class XII marks instead.

CATE was introduced in 2010. While in the first CATE, 17 colleges participated, the number increased to 25 in 2011 and in 2012, 21 colleges, including Hindu, Lady Shri Ram, IP College, Kirori Mal and Zakir Husain (evening), accepted the test scores to enroll students.

According to university officials, the test is likely to be put on hold for the time being keeping in view the implementation of the new four-year-undergraduate programme. Usually, by this time, the English department starts the preparation for the test after receiving the confirmations from different colleges of their participation.

"All departments are engaged in the course preparation. There is just about one-and-half months left for the admission process to start and the university administration is busy with the preparation of the implementation of the new undergraduate programme. The English department, which used to conduct the test, is also busy with the course design. The university is planning to keep the admission process simple, instead of having multiple procedures," said a senior university official.

Sources in the university administration said though a final decision is yet to be taken, in all probability the CATE exam is not happening this year as has been suggested by the English department. The administration and the admission committee are also of the view that in case the department or colleges wish to have an entrance exam it can be re-introduced in the next academic session.

CATE likely to be discontinued this year under the four-year-undergraduate degree course

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