'CUET-UG Not To Make Board Exams Redundant', Says UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar

According to UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate admissions is unlikely to render board exams irrelevant.

By Jitendra Jangid May 18, 2023, 07:49 IST

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate programmes is not likely to make the board exams irrelevant, according to UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar. The pass percentage and the number of students scoring above 90 per cent and 95 per cent in CBSE class 12 declined this year, kickstarting a debate about whether the introduction of the CUET has taken the focus off board exams and will end up making them redundant in the longer run. “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 PTI. “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. The second edition of CUET-UG is set to begin on May 21. The University Grants Commission (UGC) chief explained that the basic eligibility criteria are a key factor for admission to all universities and other examinations such as JEE (engineering) and NEET (medical) at the national level. “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. Asked about how CUET will provide an edge to students over the board exam marks for UG admissions, Kumar said, “In the past, students used to be under stress to secure more than 95 per cent marks in class 12 board examination to get admission in the university of their choice." “With the introduction of CUET, the stress on them for securing very high marks in the one and only board examination stands reduced. Marks given by different boards vary widely because of the typology of questions and the scoring pattern. These things will now be standardised under CUET,” he said. The UGC, in March last year, announced that undergraduate admissions will be conducted in all central universities through a common entrance test and not based on class 12 marks. The debut edition of the CUET-UG was conducted in July last year and was marred by glitches, prompting the NTA to cancel the exam at multiple centres. While several students were informed about the cancellation a night before the exam, many of them were turned away from centres. The UGC chairman had then said the exam at certain centres had been cancelled following reports of “sabotage”. top videos Nearly 14 lakh applications have been received for the CUET-UG this year, registering a 41 per cent increase from the debut edition last year. CUET-UG remains the second-largest entrance exam in the country in terms of applicants. In the debut edition of CUET-UG, 12.50 lakh students registered themselves and 9.9 lakh of them submitted their applications.

According to UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate admissions is unlikely to render board exams irrelevant. The decrease in pass percentage and the number of students scoring above 90% and 95% in CBSE class 12 exams this year has sparked a debate on whether the introduction of CUET has shifted the focus away from board exams, eventually making them obsolete. However, Kumar clarified that the basic eligibility criterion for university admission remains the same: candidates must have passed the class 12 examination from a recognized board or its equivalent.

Kumar emphasized that board exams at the class 12 level are not likely to become redundant because they serve as "achievement tests," whereas CUET-UG acts as a "selection test." He also highlighted that the marks in grade 12 required for eligibility may vary across programs and universities. The second edition of CUET-UG is scheduled to commence on May 21. The UGC Chairman further explained that the basic eligibility criteria play a crucial role in admissions to all universities and other national-level examinations like JEE (engineering) and NEET (medical).

To ensure a common testing system, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is working on offering a high-quality Common Aptitude Test, along with specialized subject exams in sciences, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects. These exams aim to assess conceptual understanding and the ability to apply knowledge, ultimately reducing the need for coaching. Students can choose the subjects they wish to be tested on, and universities can admit students based on individual interests and talent, considering their subject portfolios.

When asked about how CUET will provide an advantage to students over board exam marks for undergraduate admissions, Kumar stated that previously, students felt immense pressure to secure over 95% marks in the class 12 board exams to gain admission to their desired universities. However, with the introduction of CUET, the pressure to achieve exceptionally high marks in the sole board examination has reduced. The variations in marks across different boards due to question typology and scoring patterns will now be standardized under CUET.

Last year, the UGC announced that undergraduate admissions in all central universities would be conducted through a common entrance test rather than relying solely on class 12 marks. The debut edition of CUET-UG, held in July last year, faced technical issues, leading to the cancellation of the exam at multiple centers. While some students were notified about the cancellation the night before, others were turned away from the centers. The UGC Chairman had attributed the cancellations to reports of "sabotage" at certain centers.

This year, nearly 14 lakh applications have been received for CUET-UG, marking a 41% increase compared to the debut edition. CUET-UG remains the second-largest entrance exam in the country in terms of applicants. In the first edition, 12.50 lakh students registered, with 9.9 lakh of them submitting their applications.

'CUET-UG Not To Make Board Exams Redundant', Says UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar

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