Common scholastic aptitude test on cards

The Centre is aiming at bringing in a scholastic aptitude test by merging the AIEEE and pre-medical entrance test, Joint Secretary, Union HRD Ministry, R.P. Sisodia, has said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the second graduation ceremony of the students of Centre for Distance Learning of the GITAM University here on Saturday, he said the existing tests were only evaluating the academic abilities of the students.

Though the Centre was mulling over the idea of a common examination, it could not be pushed as education was on the Concurrent List.

Once the proposed aptitude test was in place, the students would be able to take up the career of their choice and excel in it, he said and explained how the entrance tests for admission into professional courses evolved in different States.

‘Existing tests are restrictive’

The existing entrance tests were restrictive, he said. The shortcomings of such entrance tests had been understood by the State governments too, he said pointing out that Tamil Nadu had done away with entrance examination.

So far, seven States had accepted the Centre’s proposal and some deemed universities too had expressed willingness to accept the common entrance scores for admission into professional courses, Mr. Sisodia said. The single scholastic aptitude test across the country would take time he noted.

Academic performance

For the purpose of admissions, the universities would also take into account the academic performance of the student in the board examinations and the merit list would be prepared based on the aggregated scores, he explained.