Explained: what is the Common University Entrance Test

If you thought Class 12 board exams marks were enough to get you into college… not anymore.

The University Grants Commisson, the govt body that regulates all central universities, has introduced another exam.

The Common University Entrance Test will now, among other things, will stand in between you and your Bachelors or Masters admissions

All central universities have been asked use CUET scores as a basis students to undergraduate course this year.

So what is this new exam and how will it be conducted?

· Application for the common test will start in April

· The examination will be conducted in July

· The CUET will have 4 sections - Section 1A, Section 1B, general test and domain-specific subjects

· Section 1A, which will be compulsory, will be in 13 languages and candidates can choose the language of their choice.

· The options are English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

· Section 1B is optional and for students who want to opt for another language apart from the ones that are a part of Section 1A.

· Under the domain-specific subjects, a candidate can choose up to a maximum of six subjects that they wish to pursue at the undergraduate level

· The CUET will be held in two shifts. In the first shift, candidates will be able to write one language, two domain-specific papers and the general test.

· In the second shift, candidates can write the remaining four domain-specific subjects and section 1B

· The exam will not affect the reservation or local students quota of the universities

The University Grants Commission chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar has said that however universities will have the autonomy to use Class 12 marks as admission criteria.

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Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the UGC chairman said said it will provide equal opportunities to students from across boards, especially to those from the northeast and rural areas.

The CUET is also expected to reduce financial burden on parents and students, as candidates will only have to write one exam.

While the exams will be conducted for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, universities can opt out of it for postgraduate admissions.