18,000 take entrance test for Maharashtra B-schools on Day 1

Close to 18,000 students took the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MAH-CET), for admission to state B-schools, on Saturday. The online exam will be held on Sunday too.

Close to 18,000 students took the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MAH-CET), for admission to state B-schools, on Saturday. The online exam will be held on Sunday too.

While the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) registered a rise of almost 14% in registrations for the exam, the actual number of candidates taking the test is expected to be lower.

Aspirants who gave the test on Saturday said while there were no glitches, there was a change in pattern of multiple choice questions (MCQs). This year, the MCQs had four options, unlike five till last year.

“The practice papers also had four options. However, we were not informed about it beforehand,” said a candidate.

DTE officials said the change was a minor one and made little difference to the test.

The state entrance exam was reintroduced last year. In 2013, it was replaced with the Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT), but more than 50% seats in state Masters in Business Administration (MBA) colleges remained vacant that year.

In a report submitted to the government in 2013, the DTE had said many students in the state, especially those from rural areas, were not aware of CMAT or its format, which lead to the large number of seats going vacant.