With no clue shared in public domain why it cancelled CMAT Sep 2015 exam, the AICTE action is an indicator that it is on path to make CMAT a yearly event instead of half-yearly exercise.
AICTE has cancelled its CMAT 2015 September exam and proposes to convene it in January 2016. Earlier there used to be 2 CMAT exams for admission to AICTE approved PGDM/MBA courses in the coming academic session. The first CMAT used to be held in September and the second in the month of coming February regularly. Now since it may not be possible for AICTE to convene CMAT in Feb 2016 immediately after a month from the first CMAT in January 2016, it is very much possible that AICTE might be planning to make CMAT a yearly exam instead of convening 2 CMAT in one year.
CMAT: Gateway to 400 B schools
CMAT scores are accepted by around 400+ B schools running AICTE approved management programmes in India. It is the 2nd largest MBA/PGDM entrance test after CAT in the country. Management institutes affiliated to Universities in thirteen states of Chhatisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and other private B schools approved by AICTE accept the CMAT scores.
More candidates take CMAT February test
The registration data for CMAT Sep exam vs feb exam during the past is an example of this glaring fact that fewer candidates appear in CMAT Sep exam and more candidates prefer CMAT Feb exam. The main reason behind it is that almost all the results of important exams are out by then and CMAT remains the only hope to explore admission opportunity in good B schools.
Past trends may reveal some facts-
Table: Comparison of CMAT Data: Number of candidates appeared
| CMAT exam |
Number of candidates appeared |
|
Feb 2013 |
1,17,434 |
|
May 2013 |
45,157 |
|
Sep 2013 |
64,534 |
|
Feb 2014 |
88,942 |
|
Sep 2014 |
60,000 (Appx) |
Source: AICTE & MBAUniverse.com Analysis
CMAT to retain position
So far CMAT has retained its position as the second largest MBA/PGDM entrance exam. Around 1 lakh candidates register for CMAT especially for CMAT February exam. In case AICTE decides to convene CMAT as a yearly exam in the month of January, it may do more good to the MBA aspirants.
In fact, September is the registration and preparation time for other important MBA/PGDM entrance tests like CAT/XAT/NMAT/IIFT/SNAP. As against CMAT, these tests are conducted once in a year and their preparation pattern is slightly different. For example CAT doesn’t focus on General Awareness and General Awareness in XAT is not considered in percentile calculation. Sectional formation is also different in each test. With all these key factors, more aspirants find it better to go for CMAT February test instead of registering for CMAT September.
Is the opportunity to improve scores really lost?
No, on the contrary candidates will focus more on CMAT January/February test as they will be free from their other important exams like CAT, IIFT, NMAT by GMAC, SNAP, XAT says Prof S K Agarwal Expert on verbal Ability and mentor on CMAT preparation. Most of the top B schools accepting CMAT scores close their admission application process by the time result for CMAT February test is declared. Now they shall keep it open if they at all are going to accept CMAT January 2016 scores. Earlier they allowed the candidates to submit their improved scores over CMAT Sep exam but this improvement was only marginal and used to be lost in the glitter of CAT/XAT scores in most of the B-schools.
Besides the B schools award higher weightage to CAT/XAT/GMAT scores and while equating the CMAT scores at par with them, the weightage is reduced.
AICTE proposes to streamline CMAT
As proposed by AICTE, the next CMAT is expected in January 2016. It may attract more highly ranked B-schools to get associated to CMAT. So far the list of B-schools supposed to accept CMAT scores and lying on AICTE website has not been updated and many of them do not accept CMAT scores as one of the shortlisting criteria for admission. Prominent B-schools among them are IMI, IMT, FORE, LBSIM, JBIMS among others.
In case AICTE could make CMAT a yearly event it may not affect the interest of the candidates adversely.
The notification for CMAT January/February 2016 is proposed to be released by AICTE in the month of November/December 2015 on its site with all the details. It is very much possible that AICTE would be coming out with the details on the proposed policy on CMAT very shortly.
Related Article
AICTE-CMAT 2016 First test: Announcement in a week's time; says AICTE Director
CMAT 2015 Sep: Skipped or completely stopped by AICTE
CMAT 2015 Sep: AICTE forgets opening of registration; may cause delay in exam dates
MBA Admission open in Delhi NCR: Good options available for the test takers of CAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ MAT
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on AICTE- CMAT
