View: The problems with one-size-fits-all test for admissions to central universities

In a development that has taken everyone by surprise, the Common University Entrance Test, a computer-based, multiple-choice test, has suddenly become the new normal for college admissions. Class 12 board exams will no longer be the admissions criteria for the 45 central universities. However, this is still optional for state, private and deemed universities. What are the implications of this change for students? After all they have already seen their fair share of changes in recent times.

Let’s see the series of changes that the batch of 2022-23 has weathered:

1. Adaptation to MCQ pattern for Board Exams.


2. Boards being conducted in two parts hence altogether a new normal.

3. Delay in the board examination and now having an introduction exam for college admissions.

4. Students will finish boards in May, leaving them with barely any time to prepare for CUET

The goals of the CUET are laudable and will likely transform the education landscape in a few years. After all, unreasonable high school cut offs for example are a valid concern and the CUET might level the playing field in the long term for students across the country. However, it is hard for students and educators not to be skeptical about a system that seems to be changing abruptly without any vision or concern for the disorientation students are bound to face.

A key question we have to address is how fair the CUET is for students who are in different Indian boards such as ICSE or state boards. Earlier parents used to change schools (in 9th or 11th) to CBSE for kids who were interested in Medical or Engineering as those exams were based on the NCERT syllabus.

What happens now? Will enrolling in schools which are not affiliated to CBSE make sense at all?

One of the drawbacks of this drastic change will of course be the very thing that the CUET is supposed to address – “one nation, one test” sounds good on paper but not every student across the country will have the same support in terms of tutoring or guidance to adapt to the changed reality.

The government needs to take steps to make the CUET cost effective. Free portals and resources should be made available through schools or online.

Why our idea of college admissions is still warped
If we look at the top universities globally we see an emphasis on holistic development. From interpersonal communication to the ability to set a course for one’s own learning journey, admissions criteria are variegated and focused on judging the true potential of a candidate. For example, Harvard receives more than 54000 applications with 3 percent acceptance rates. Does it focus on just one criterion? We need to look at more system wide change that shifts the emphasis of education from tests to learning. An entrance test, no matter how objective, will not be a magic solution to our educational woes.
What we can learn from the SAT

The SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the US. Last year the College Board which conducts the SAT brought about several changes to the format of the test. SAT Subject tests, which had been part of the testing framework for a long time, were discontinued. Instead AP (Advanced Placement) Tests became the route for interested students to earn college credits.

Since CUET is based on subjects, we should reflect more on why College Board chose to discontinue the subject tests or for that matter why US colleges do not feel these add value in terms of admissions decisions. Perhaps making a single test the sole determinant for a candidate’s merit is not the best way forward after all. We need to keep in mind that the CUET is one of the necessary first steps toward reforming our education system aligned with NEP 2020.

That said, the disruptive impact CUET will have on the current batch of candidates is undeniable. We can only hope that clear communication of examination details and detailed sample papers will create a more level playing field for students across India regardless of whether they are familiar with the NCERT syllabus. Only then will we truly empower students starting from the current batch and make the new reforms a success.

(The writer is co-founder & director, Collegify)