CUET will be a computer-based test with multiple choice questions. (Representational)
The first phase of the Common University Entrance Test was held today across 500 centres in India and 10 in abroad. A last-minute change of exam centre led to many candidates missing the exam.
Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
Those who could not appear for the crucial exam on the first day due to a change in centres will get another chance in the second phase in August, according to National Testing Agency (NTA) officials.
The Common University Entrance Test or CUET is being conducted in two phases - Phase 1 in July (15, 16, 19 and 20) and Phase 2 in August (4-8 and 10). Candidates who have opted for Physics, Chemistry or Biology have been assigned to Phase 2 after the NEET exam on July 17.
It is the second biggest entrance exam in the country after NEET with 14.9 lakh registrations. NEET-UG is the biggest entrance test in India with an average of 18 lakh registrations.
It will be a computer-based test with multiple choice questions, divided into three sections - Section I (IA and IB) for language proficiency, Section II for core topic knowledge and Section III for general knowledge.
The mega entrance test will be held in two shifts - morning shift from 9 am to 12.15 pm and the evening shift from 3 pm to 6.45 pm.
Around 8.1 lakh candidates will appear in the first slot and 6.80 lakh candidates in the second. These candidates have applied for 54,555 unique combinations of subjects across 90 universities.
Several students, prior to the exam, raised concerns over the CUET as it requires taking too many exams in a short period of time, delay in admit cards and not being given the choice of centre.
Tamil Nadu is not in favour of the CUET with Chief Minister MK Stalin urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw it. He claimed the exam will sideline diverse school education and undermine development-oriented long-form schooling.
The University Grants Commission or UGC had in March announced that CUET scores, and not Class 12 marks, would be mandatory for admission to 45 central universities which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria.
A total of 44 central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the first edition of CUET-UG for admissions in the academic session 2022-23.
