MAHCET 2017: 1st session of the 2 days 4 sessions computer based test begins on time; tips for March 5 test takers

None of the odds of election process or any other thing stopped the MAH CET 2017 exam for admission to MBA/MMS 2017-19 for 40000 plus seats in 400 MBA colleges from beginning on time today on Saturday March 4 with no technical glitches reported so far. A few stray cases were resolved as the reports are pouring in from across the country.

Around 25% of approximately 94000 plus registered candidates for MAHCET 2017 gathered across the country at 40 test cities to take the exam in the morning session on March 4, for admission to MBA/MMS 2017-19 programmes and are trying their luck for the top B-schools like JBIMS, K J Somaiya, SIMSREE and other 400 B-schools.

Last year candidates were asked to report 45 minutes before the scheduled time of the start of the exam and this year the time has been increased. The exam is of 2½ hours duration but now DTE says ‘Though the duration of the examination is 2.5 hours, candidates may be required to be at the venue for about 4 hours including the time required for completion of various formalities such as verification and collection of various requisite documents, logging in, giving of instructions.’  Accordingly, this year candidates had to report much earlier about 1½ before the start of the exam. 

The entry at the test venue was supposed to be closed 30 minutes before the start of the exam. Accordingly for the exam beginning at 9AM candidates had to report by 7.30 – 8 AM. However, a few candidates who arrived at the nick of time and were late due to unavoidable circumstances were allowed but this was allowed as a special case and prior to the beginning of the exam. No candidates was allowed after beginning of the exam.

MAHCET 2017 is conducted in multiple sessions today on March 4 and tomorrow on March 5, 2017. It is 150 minutes online exam comprising 200 MCQs divided in 4 sections namely Logical Reasoning-75 questions; Abstract Reasoning 25 questions; Verbal Ability & reading comprehension-50 questions and Quantitative Aptitude-50 questions. Quant section in MAHCET 2017 also consists of questions on data Interpretation.

Last year the registration for MAHCET was over with 75000 candidates out of which 69000  took the test in multiple sessions. This year the registration has gone up to 94500 and it is expected that around 85000 would appear in MAHCET 2017 exam being held today and tomorrow.

MAH CET exam got a break in 2013 and all the admissions to MBA/MMS programmes in Maharashtra B-schools were finalised through AICTE-CMAT exam. Prior to that in 2011 MAHCET recorded highest registrations of 96000 competing for only 20000 seats. MAH CET exam re-started in 2014 with low registrations and higher intake. The interest of MBA aspirants has since then continuously increased for MAH-CET exam.

A comparison chart from exam year 2011 till 2017 showing the growing popularity of MAH CET exam among MBA aspirants is shared below-

DTE creates exam conducting Cell
Learning the lessons from the grievances raised by thousands of MAHCET exam takers due to number of wrong or misprinted questions as well as answer options in the exam and legal issues that followed after declaration of MAHCET result 2015, Government of Maharashtra  carved out a new exam conducting body in 2016 with the name State Common Entrance Test Cell (State CET Cell), instead of assigning direct responsibility to Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Maharashtra to conduct MAHCET 2017.

CBT exam running without technical issues
It has been around an hour and the test is being conducted at the exam centre with no technical glitches which allays the fear of technical and management problems at the test centres as the first session on the first day of MHCET 2017 began on time in most of the regions in the country. No report so far has been received about any problem due to which MAHCET 2017 couldn’t begin on time.

Time Management: Key to success
Candidates have to attempt 200 questions in 150 minutes. There is less than 1 minute to attempt a question. The biggest benefit is that there is no fear of negative marking. Experts and MAHCET toppers advise the candidates to maximise their attempts and to some extent, may use the guess work. The strategy should be to attempt the easy questions first and then move to tough ones.

More Testing rooms are arranged in the examination centre to accommodate more number of candidates. Initially a long queue got formed before the security check point. However, it continued moving and by 8.40 the handling became smooth.  The morning Sun also posed no problem for the candidates as they continued standing and basking in Sun in the early morning without any complaints.

Number of candidates were seen discussing the fear of anticipated technical glitches at the centre during the examination. The fear was not also unfounded as a higher number of candidates are taking the test in each session.

Keeping their fingers crossed, candidates moved on and were seen entering the testing lab slowly. A few of them, knowing that no breaks would be allowed during the examination, preferred to go to the washroom before entering the testing lab.

It was anticipated that the first session could be delayed due to various problems at the exam centre. But MAHCET 2017 exam Centre has well managed the stage and started the test with no delays.

JBIMS still clueless on admission process
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) Mumbai, the leading MBA college of Mumbai University is still clueless on its admission process. This has created panic among the MAHCET aspirants. For the admission year 2017, JBIMS does not propose to offer admission to its MMS 2017-19 batch through the DTE-Centralized Admission Process (CAP round) and will announce its own admission criteria.

JBIMS has not announced its application dates nor the admission criteria. The reports indicate that the highly ranked MBA college may conduct its own admission test in near future.
 
Tips for next 3 sessions
The State CET Cell has brought about many changes in MAHCET 2017 exam. A few important changes that candidates appearing in MAHCET 2017 tomorrow on March 5 should remember are –

• To score high you may attempt last minute Mock and analyse it
• Immediately after the exam check your score on Percentile predictor
• Number of questions in each of 4 sections are fixed this year and were pre declared a month before the exam;
• Abstract & Logical Reasoning with 100 questions has 50% share in marking
• Role of VARC and Quant limited to 25% each with 50 questions for each of them
• Exam syllabus was published many days before
• Marking scheme for MAHCET 2017 has already been announced. It will carry 1 mark for each correct answer and no negative marking will be there for any wrong answer.
• Minimized chances of wrong or misprint in questions or answers
• All the 4 sections are named as tests and not as sections

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on MAHCET 2017