The lack of clarity over the validity of the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admissions to medical courses has irked seat aspirants who, after writing the test on Wednesday and Thursday, will also have to write various entrance exams such as COMEDK and those conducted by deemed universities.
The students, however, are keeping their fingers crossed and are hoping that the CET would be a valid entrance test as they feel it would be easier than the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). While CET tests a student’s ability to grasp facts, NEET tests a student’s problem-solving ability.
CET in 391 centres
As many as 1.78 lakh students are expected to write the CET from Wednesday in 391 centres across the State. The Kannada language test for 2,560 Horanadu and Gadinadu candidates will be held on Friday.
On Wednesday, students will write biology paper in the first half of the day and attempt mathematics paper in the second half. On Thursday, they will attempt physics and chemistry papers.
Karthik C., a second pre-university student, felt that the State government should have decided on conducting the State entrance test after getting some clarity on its validity. “Despite the uncertainty, we have prepared well for this exam and want the CET to be considered valid. Most of us have pinned our hopes on this exam. My Sunday’s test (NEET Phase 1) was tough and we hope the CET would be easier,” he said.
He argued that making NEET the single entrance test for medical and dental admissions would be unfair for students like him as those taking NEET Phase 2 on July 24 would have nearly three more months to prepare.
NEET Phase 2
A large number of medical seat aspirants, however, will have to gear up to write NEET Phase 2 despite writing the CET as they had not registered for the All India Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Test, which was later termed NEET Phase 1.
“We thought that our competitive exams will end this month. We, however, will have to struggle for another three months as we have to write NEET Phase 2,” said Vijay S., a second pre-university student.
