Entrance Tests

BITSAT Notification, Eligibility and Online Application Procedure

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BITSAT is a computer based online test for admission to first semester of Integrated First Degree Programmes of BITS, Pilani at Pilani Campus, K.K. Birla Goa Campus and Hyderabad campus. ‘BITS Admission Test’, in short is referred as BITSAT. BITS Pilani is the most reputed and world class technology education provider in India. The institution was declared as Deemed to be University by UGC, Govt. of India. This article gives you detailed information on the programmes offered at BITS campuses, eligibility requirements, direct admissions for board toppers, online application procedure, download of hall tickets, BITSAT results and counseling dates. Following are the details of Integrated first degree programmes offered at BITS campuses:

Programmes offered at BITS, Pilani – Pilani Campus:

1) B.E.(Hons.): Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.
2) B.Pharm.(Hons.)
3) M.Sc.(Hons.): Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics and Physics.
4) M.Sc.(Technology.): General Studies, Finance, Information Systems.

Programmes offered at BITS, Pilani – Goa Campus:

1) B.E.(Hons.): Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
2) M.Sc.(Hons.): Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics and Physics.
3) M.Sc.(Tech.): Information Systems.

Courses at BITS, Pilani – Hyderabad Campus:

1) B.E.(Hons.): Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
2) B.Pharm.(Hons.)
3) M.Sc.(Hons.): Biological Sciences, Chemistry; Economics, Mathematics and Physics.
4) M.Sc.(Technology): Information Systems.

Candidates who got admission to M.Sc.(Hons.) programmes will be given an option to work for a second degree for one of the B.E. (Hons.) OR B.Pharm.(Hons.) programmes under the dual degree scheme. Under this scheme, a candidate normally requires five years to complete both the degrees and will be awarded both the degrees, namely M.Sc.(Hons.) and B.E.(Hons.) OR B.Pharm.(Hons.).

Eligibility for BITSAT:

Applicants to BITSAT should have passed in the 12th class examination of 10+2 system from any recognised Central or State board. They should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at the +2 level and must have obtained at least 75 percent marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in aggregate and minimum 60 percent in each of the three subjects. Candidates should have adequate proficiency in English. Applicants should be appearing for 12th examination in 2012 or those who have passed 12th Examination in 2011 are only eligible to appear in the BITSAT-2012 online computer based test. Candidates who have passed 12th examination in 2010 or earlier are not eligible for BITSAT 2012. The merit list will be drawn based on the score obtained by the candidate in the BITSAT and also requirement of minimum marks in 12th examination.

Direct Admission to Central and State Board Toppers: BITS Pilani offer direct admission facility for all the students who secured first ranks in their respective board examinations (ICSE or CBSE or State Boards). These students will be directly admitted into program of their choice, irrespective of their BITSAT-2012 scores. More details about direct admission scheme will be available at BITS website www.bitsadmission.com by 20th May 2012.

Application Procedure: Interested candidates should register for BITSAT-2012 by applying in the prescribed application form available online at http://www.bitsadmission.com and should pay the prescribed fees. Candidates are requested to take the print out of the application for future reference. Application fee is Rs. 1700 (Rs. 1200 for female candidates) if paid as DD and this along with application should be sent to Admissions Officer, BITS, Pilani – 333 031. Application fee for non DD formats is Rs. 1600 (Rs. 1100 for female candidates).

Important Dates:

1) Last date to apply for BITSAT-2012: 15th February 2012
2) Test center allotment and announcement to candidates: 25th February 2012
3) Candidates to reserve Test dates: 29th February – 20th March 2012
4) Download of Hall tickets with instructions: 14th April – 30th April 2012
5) BITSAT Online tests: 10th May – 9th June 2012
6) Candidates to apply for admission with 12th marks and Preferences to Degree programmes: 19th May – 30th June 2012
7) Admit List and Wait List announcement : 1st July 2012.

CMAT Exam Pattern, Preparation Strategy and Useful Books

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Right now there are four national level admission tests for management education viz., CAT, MAT, XAT and ATMA the scores of which are acceptable to Indian B-Schools. MAT is conducted four times in a year on the first Sunday in the months of February, May, September and December. Other three examinations are conducted once in a year on scheduled dates. CMAT, now being conducted by AICTE, would be the fifth national level test. It is also conducted once in a year. In addition, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), an international non-profit association of business schools based in McLean, Virginia, USA is gaining its acceptance in many B-Schools.

There is consensus on the need for reducing the multiplicity of management admission tests. However, there is no consensus on streamlining the tests. The initiative taken by AICTE to address this problem is welcome from the students and the parents’ point of view. However, AICTE is meeting with stiff resistance from the B-Schools.

In fact, the notification issued by the AICTE about the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) a few days ago has caught MBA aspirants, B-schools and coaching institutes’ off-guard. Many schools have not received intimation about the new test. Students are clueless and confused on whether they should register for it. There is no clarity on the B-schools accepting CMAT scores for granting admissions. There are questions about the standard of the test, syllabus for preparation, what to study, etc. It is also not clear whether AICTE is making it mandatory for all the schools/institutes approved by them to accept CMAT scores for granting admission into management programs. However, given the fact that over 4,00,000 seats have been sanctioned by AICTE in various institutes/universities, it may be able to push its plans forward and succeed in making a good number of institutes/universities to admit students with CMAT scores.

The eligibility criterion for CMAT also raises questions. The notification states “Graduates in any discipline or Final year students of Graduate Courses can apply for CMAT.” As per the latest AICTE Approval Process Handbook 2011-2012, eligibility criteria for admission into MBA and MCA courses is revised stipulating 50% (45% for reserved categories) of marks at the qualifying examination. Non-adherence to this criterion may lead to some students taking CMAT examination, who are otherwise not eligible for admission into management programs.

Students aspiring to join premier B-Schools generally target some schools of their choice and prepare for the examinations which are relevant for those schools. In the absence of list of schools/institutes which are accepting the CMAT scores, the test may find poor acceptance from the students. In fact students should be informed about CMAT accepting institutes well in advance.

On the other hand, some premier B-Schools have already communicated in no uncertain terms that they would not take CMAT scores for the next academic year. This is appreciable as most schools have already published the prospectus for the coming academic year and announced their policy for admissions. Interestingly the notification of admission test issued by AICTE states “scores awarded will be used for allotment of seat in the AICTE approved Institutes/University Departments.” Can AICTE impose CMAT on institutes/University Departments? Going by the past experiences, if this is attempted, it may meet with stiff resistance from the B-School managements. Clearly the admission policies of a B-School are the prerogative of the management.

For the coaching institutes such as T.I.M.E., IMS, Career Launcher, etc. it’s a new opportunity for preparing the students to take another entrance test. These institutes are already in the mode of planning for their programs.

AICTE’s intervention for conducting a common admission test for management programs is a right step forward. It addresses the concerns of many parents and students. However the way CMAT is implemented is raising eye brows. AICTE is expecting nearly 1.5 lakh students to appear for the CMAT which will be conducted in 61 centres all over India.

Pattern of examination for CMAT

The test will be of 100 marks and will be divided in four different components of 25 marks each. There shall be negative marking for wrong answers, for each wrong answer 1 mark shall be deducted. The CMAT test duration is for 3 hours. The test will be conducted in two shifts viz., 930 hrs to 1230 hrs and 1430 hrs to 1730 hrs.

Pattern of examination for CMAT:

1) Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation: 25 questions
2) Logical Reasoning: 25 questions
3) Language Comprehension: 25 questions
4) General Awareness: 25 questions
Total: 100 questions

How to prepare?

CMAT is being conducted for the first time. AICTE has not given detailed syllabus and the rigour of the test. Hence at this stage one can only go by the approach of AICTE and the philosophy by which they are guided. Preparation required for any good management admission test should suffice for CMAT too. Suggested books and magazines which would see candidate through the test is provided in the table. In addition to these, students should read an English newspaper without fail. Reading and understanding the editorial and the critical articles is important. In addition, one can watch news program on one of the international channels, a national channel and a business channel.

Important Dates for CMAT 2012:

1) Registration window opens on: 9.12.11
2) Last Date for Online Registration: 9.01.12
3) Print out of Hall ticket: From 30.01.2012
4) Online test dates: 20.02.12 to 28.02.12
5) Test Timings : 09.30 am – 12.30 pm (1st Shift); 02.30 pm – 5.30 pm (2nd Shift)
6) Declaration of result: 11.03.12 to 11.04.12

What should you read?

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation:

1) How To Prepare For The Data Interpretation And Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma, Tata McGraw-Hill
2) Data Interpretation And Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha, Pearson Education
3) Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Examinations by Guha Abhijit, Tata McGraw-Hill
4) Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Agarawal, S. Chand
5) How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma, Tata McGraw Hill
6) Mathematics books for 8th, 9th & 10th standard by NCERT

Logical Reasoning:

1) Arihant Analytical & Logical Reasoning by BS Sijwali, Ajay Singh, Arihant Publication Pvt. Ltd

Language Comprehension:

1) Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, General Book Depot
2) A Communicative Grammar of English by Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik, Longman
3) Business English and Communication by Lyn Clark, McGraw Hill
4) 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis, Pocket Books
5) Student’s Companion By Wilfred D. Best, HarperCollins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd.

General Awareness

1) Business Magazines: Business Today, Business World
2) General Knowledge: Competition Success Review

Only time will tell us whether CMAT will be able to make a mark in the market place and gain credibility for granting admission in the premier B-Schools or end up catering to tier II and tier II schools. But for now, CMAT is one more addition to an already cluttered admission test space. It’s a long way for AICTE to achieve its objective of reducing the number of tests by increasing the acceptance of its test score. For parents and for their beloved students the ordeal of multiple tests at exorbitant costs continues.

We wish all the aspirants of CMAT all the very best.