In first year, only 70k sign up for CMAT

Updated on: Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Merely 70,000 aspirants across the country have registered for the first edition of the national level Common Management Admission Test (CMAT).

The entrance test, for admission to 3,500-odd MBA colleges in the country, will be conducted online by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) over a period of eight days starting February 20.

“By the time the dates for the CMAT were announced, most of the states had already announced the schedule of their entrance examinations. It also took time to approach the states. Also, it’s the first year of implementation. From next year, the registration will increase,” said AICTE chairman S S Mantha.

The idea of a common admission test for admissions to B-schools, barring Indian Institutes of Management, was mooted last year. The announcement was made in December. “The idea is to have fewer entrance tests for students to reduce stress. All AICTE-approved institutions will have to accept CMAT scores,” added Mantha.

The three-hour entrance test will be conducted at 61 centres across the country over nine days in two shifts. The 100-mark test will be divided in four different components of 25 marks each, wherein one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. However, even as CMAT aims to promote a single entrance test, several other bodies plan to continue with their tests.

The Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) that conducts a test for management admissions at the national level may soon offer the exam every alternate month for the benefit of students. Apoorva Palkar, chairperson of the AIMS Test for Management Admissions, said, “We have almost 9,000 to 10,000 candidates appearing for the tests that we conduct. We hold four tests—one paper-pencil and three e-tests that were started on an experimental basis last year.” She added that CMAT scores also will be accepted by the association’s institutes in addition to other scores.

The state government has already scrapped the state CET for admissions to B-schools from the next academic year. An official from the Directorate of Technical Education said, “From next year, admissions in the state will be completely based on the CMAT scores. This is the last year for the state CET.”

However, the state is yet to decide on the details of the admission process. Last year, around 96,000 candidates from the state appeared for the MBA/ MMS CET from the state. Several other states have decided to accept CMAT from the next academic year, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

In first year, only 70k sign up for CMAT

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