In CUET race, rush to coaching institutes in Delhi starting from Class X

NEW DELHI: With the second edition of the Common University Entrance Test for undergraduate admissions to various universities a few months away, coaching institutes say queries regarding the exam have started pouring in and students are starting their preparation from as early as Classes X and XI.
Officials of several coaching institutes said while the initial confusion around the entrance examination has died down, the students are now concerned about the intricacies of the examination and guidelines laid down by their preferred universities.
Amitendra Kumar, product head at undergraduate programmes of Career Launcher, said: "CUET is not just another exam. It is about getting into the dream college with a program of choice. So, no student wants to take a chance. With the stakes high in CUET, starting early to have a good grip on the subjects is what every student wants. For instance, students who are in Class XI and will move to class XII next month had already started their preparation in June last year."
Several coaching institutes at Mukherjee Nagar said it is preferred to begin preparation for CUET from Class XI itself. "We have batches starting from Class XI itself as it gives students enough time to prepare for the general test paper. Leaving the preparations for Class XII becomes too much as one has to prepare for the Board examinations as well," an official from a coaching institute explained.
"With more universities on board, the number of students appearing for CUET is expected to be more than what we see in NEET and JEE. We must not be surprised if CUET 2023 becomes the country's biggest UG entrance exam in just its second edition," Kumar said.
Anurag Tiwari, national academic director, Medical Aakash BYJU'S, said: "Competitive examinations are known for more rejections and few selections. For instance, if 100 students appear for NEET, only 10 will crack it. Now, students are simultaneously preparing for CUET as another option, just in case they cannot crack either JEE or NEET. With a good CUET score, their chances of securing admissions at a good college increase."
However, educators and school principals warn of a worrying trend where students are dropping out of regular education after Class X in order to concentrate on CUET preparations.
Jyoti Arora, principal, Mount Abu Public School, said: "Schools are not just a place for academics but all-round development and growth. However, students these days are happy to drop out of regular schools and enroll in distant learning programmes that have tie-ups with coaching centres. The entire school education is being diluted and it is a serious concern which the government should look into."