DU introduces common test for English

Updated on: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Teachers feel even students with low percentages in class XII, but greater literary aptitude, will now have a chance to get into a college of their choice. Surbhi Bhatia reports

New Delhi: For the first time Delhi University (DU) will conduct a Common Aptitude Test for English (CATE) for admission to the BA English (honours) programme. Earlier, some colleges based admissions on class XII marks and others conducted their own admission test to select the students. So, in an effort to make the process more uniform, the university decided to scrap the test last year and asked colleges to grant admission based on the class XII percentage. But colleges that had previously been conducting their own admission test complained of a marked difference in the quality and performance of such students.

What, then, about the colleges that never relied on admission tests; didn’t they notice the `poor quality’ of applicants? ``Over the years we have observed a constant increase in the number of colleges introducing individual admission tests — an indication that they didn’t rely on the CBSE percentage,’’ said Malashri Lal, professor, English Department, DU. Sumanyu Satpathy, head, English Department, DU, elaborated further: `The English exam conducted by CBSE does not check a student’s aptitude for literature. It tests the student more on language skills. Many students who got admission last year on the basis of high percentage were not able to perform well. Many of them hadn’t even read a single novel. So, teachers from various colleges got together to float this common test.’’

So far, 12 colleges — including those that conducted individual admission tests earlier - — have decided to participate in the test. `Many students who came last year did not have any idea about the English (honours) programme. They thought it was a finishing course that would equip them with better English language skills. The quality of students was far better when we were conducting an admission test. So, we decided to join the pilot project and would be helping to prepare the test paper,’’ said Anita Cherian, faculty, IP College.

Hindu College will also participate. According to Tapan Basu, associate professor, English department, Hindu College, `The CBSE exam does not prepare a student for studying literature.’’ CATE, on the other hand, is designed to test the literary aptitude of a student. Students would be tested on their ability to comprehend poetry or analyse the written passages. As Basu explained, `A student after securing an aptitude score would apply for admission to these 12 colleges. 70 per cent of the CATE marks and 30 per cent of the CBSE marks would be taken into account while granting admission."

But, how many students would be able to clear such a test, considering they were not prepared for studying literature’ in school? `As tudent has a natural analytical and literary taste. This test would try to assess that. In fact, I see good chances of many students with low percentage in English (in Class XII) getting admission into a college of their choice,’’ opined Basu.

However, many colleges will not be participating in the test. `We are not subscribing to the test this year as it was too late. We want to see the modalities of conducting this test. Also, we need to see how much freedom a college subscribing to the test will be given. We would be subscribing to the test in the coming years,’’ informed Shaswati Sengupta, associate professor, English Department, Miranda House.

Colleges participating

   1. Delhi College of Arts and Commerce
   2. Hindu College
   3. Indraprastha College for Women
   4. Kamala Nehru College
   5. Maharaja Agrasen College
   6. Ram Lal Anand College (Evening)
   7. Satyawati College (Evening)
   8. Shivaji College
   9. Shyam Lal College
10. Swami Shraddhanand College
11. Zakir Hussain College (Morning)
12. Zakir Hussain College (Evening)

Admission process

   1. Students scoring at least 60per cent in English and in the best of four subjects in Class XII can apply for CATE
   2. Application forms would be available at the English Department, Arts Faculty, DU (North Campus)
   3. The duration of the test will be 90 minutes and it is scheduled to be held on June 17 (tentative)

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