Calcutta University to hold online test for admission to PG courses

KOLKATA: Calcutta University (CU) and its affiliated colleges will shift to the online system for admission to 66 post-graduate courses from the 2019-2020 academic session. The entrance test will be based on multiple-choice-questions (MCQs) where candidates seeking admission will have to answer 50 questions. While every correct answer will fetch 2 marks, candidates will lose 0.5 mark for every wrong answer.

Till now, students looking for a PG seat in CU from other universities had to visit the campus to take the test. As per the government-decided formulae, 40% of the seats are reserved for external candidates who were screened based on their performance in admission test.
The university has already started receiving applications for online admission. The last date for application is June 29. The last date for online submission of admission fee is July 1. All students who have appeared in the undergraduate examination (results awaited) are eligible to apply.
“We wanted to usher in more transparency in the process. Also, there will be minimum human intervention in the entrance examination that is centrally monitored. Moreover, publication of results will be quick. Considering the advantages, we have decided to go online for the admission process,” vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee said on Monday.
There will be a facility to upgrade marks of candidates immediately after publication of final year or semester result. Admissions against remaining 60% seats are reserved for current year passouts from the university on the basis of CU (hons) marks, except in few courses where entrance tests are mandatory for CU candidates as well.
“Admission in 40% of the total seats is reserved for both non-CU and CU students. Those CU students who could not make the cut based on marks of their honours programme can seek admission through entrance tests,” added a source.
Applicants will be able to download admit cards from the university website. The entire draft merit list will be published online. “Helpdesks will function related to online payment, guiding candidates on the rules and regulations and technical problems,” confirmed the source. As per the decision, teachers of the university will act as invigilators at the exam centres.
Over 35,000 candidates were likely to take the exam this year, pointed out a CU official. Presidency University and Jadavpur University still conduct written entrance tests.
Just before the start of the online exam, the candidates will get passwords. The applicants will also be provided with an orientation programme before the tests. All exam centres will have IT professionals to guide the candidates and tackle any glitch. Though the dates for holding tests have not been listed yet, it is likely to be in the second week of July. “We are trying to hold the test at one centre, depending on the number of applicants,” informed the official.