MH-CET: Engineering, pharmacy entrance tests to now include Class 11 curriculum

The state’s directive follows a government resolution (GR), issued earlier this year, requiring MH-CET to be brought on par with the national-level joint entrance test (JEE)

To bring the Maharashtra common entrance test (MH-CET) for pharmacy and engineering on par with national-level examinations, the state government has decided to make the Class 11 syllabus part of the CET curriculum.

In its letter to the DTE, the state also said the Biology paper would be based on National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which holds the key for the prominent medical and dental colleges of the country. (Representational photo)

In a letter to the directorate of technical education (DTE) on July 24, the state said a ‘small’ part of the test must be based on Class 11 curriculum, said Dayanand Meshram, joint director at DTE. The state has also directed the DTE to consult Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) on choosing the exact proportion of Class 11 for the CET, he added. For now, the CET is solely based on the state board’s Class 12 curriculum.

The state’s directive follows a government resolution (GR), issued earlier this year, requiring MH-CET to be brought on par with the national-level joint entrance test (JEE) in terms of the level of difficulty, paper pattern and the quality of the test from the next academic year. The decision was taken to make state board students get used to more competitive national-level tests, as they lag behind students belonging to other states and boards who appear for such test.

“We had asked the state to provide some clarifications regarding the proposed pattern for CET. Now, following the state’s directives, we will consult the state board and finalise the exam pattern,” said Meshram.

But a few experts expressed apprehension. “The board should replace its mathematics and science textbooks for Class 11 and 12 with those of National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Unless the syllabus doesn’t change, nothing will change,” said Subhash Joshi, who runs a coaching class in Borivli.