Board Exams Won't be Obsolete Because of CUET-UG, Claims UGC Chairman

NEW DELHI: According to UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, the board exams are unlikely to become obsolete due to the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate programmes.

A discussion about whether the CUET has diverted attention from board exams and may ultimately render them obsolete in the long term has been sparked by the drop in the pass percentage and the number of students scoring above 90% and 95% on the CBSE class 12 exam this year.

"The basic eligibility criterion for entrance into universities remains unchanged which is that a candidate must have passed the class 12 examination from any recognised board or equivalent. In fact, marks in grade 12 for eligibility will vary across programs and universities," Kumar told to the media.

"Moreover, the board examination is an 'achievement test' whereas CUET-UG is a 'selection test'. Hence, board exams at the class 12 level are not likely to become redundant," he said.

On May 21, CUET-UG's second edition is scheduled to start.

The head of the University Grants Commission (UGC) said that basic eligibility requirements are a crucial component of admission to all universities as well as other national exams like JEE (engineering) and NEET (medical).

"The principles for university entrance exams require a common test. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is working to offer a high-quality Common Aptitude Test, as well as specialised common subject exams in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts and vocational subjects.

"These exams will test conceptual understanding and the ability to apply knowledge and shall aim to eliminate the need for taking coaching for these exams," he said.

"Students have been able to choose the subjects for taking the test and each university will be able to see each student's individual subject portfolio and admit students into their programmes based on individual interests and talent," he added.

The NTA had to cancel the exam at several places during the first administration of the CUET-UG, which took place in July of last year.

Many students were turned away from testing centres, despite the fact that they were told of the cancellation the night before the exam.

For the CUET-UG this year, close to 14 lakh applications have been submitted, which represents a 41% rise from the first edition last year.

In terms of applicants, CUET-UG continues to draw the second-highest number of candidates nationwide. 12.50 million students registered for the first-ever CUET-UG, and 9.9 million of them submitted applications.

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