CMAT 2017: Shifted to 1 day test; January 29 declared 'Reserve Day' - AICTE confusing the aspirants

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
October 7, 2016
Till yesterday CMAT 2017 was 2 days exam, now it will be single day exam with next day kept as Reserve day
The CMAT 2017 will be conducted on 28th January 2017. 29th January is the reserved day AICTE changes stand

AICTE is shifting stand on conduct of CMAT 2017 every now and then. Till yesterday it was 2 days exam and now it is 1 day exam. As per the revised notification, CMAT 2017, the second yearly CMAT is proposed to be conducted on January 28, 2017 in single session only. Earlier it was announced that the exam will have 2 days test window of January 28 & 29, 2017. Now, at 5PM on October 6, 2016 AICTE has changed January 29 as the Reserve day which means that only in dire emergency second day will be used as test day otherwise CMAT 2017 will be over in a single session on January 28.

The information displayed on the home page of AICTE-CMAT 2017 site shows the exam dates as January 28 and keeps January 29, 2017 as the reserve day. The very first FAQ responded by AICTE at the link says ‘The CMAT-2017 will be conducted on 28th January 2017. 29th January is the reserved day’. This has created confusion and panic among the aspirants.

After getting a revamped structure and format last year, CMAT 2017 was proposed to be held in 2 days test window as against 1 day in 2016. But the changed announcement by AICTE on its website has created panic among aspirants whether they can opt for January 29 or will have to appear in CMAT 2017 only on January 28. On the top of it, no clarification on the reserve day has been shared by AICTE.

Notification changing every now & then on Website
It appears that AICTE has issued the CMAT 2017 exam notification on its website without due thought process.  AICTE till October 5 replied on FAQs that CMAT 2017 would be held on January 28, 2017.

In the morning on October 6, the  response was modified as ‘CMAT in India will be held on 28th & 29th January, 2017. Yes, you can select up-to 3 cities in India giving order of preference towards your test city. The first choice of city will be given due consideration and weightage. However, actual allotment as per order of choice will be subject to availability of the slot in that particular city.’

Around 5PM on October 6, 2016 AICTE announced in its same FAQs column “CMAT in India will be held on 28th January 2017. 29th January 2017 is a reserved day.”  Now what new will be added or deleted tomorrow you never know.

Confusion among aspirants
Instead of keeping the information clear and intact AICTE is creating confusion and panic among the candidates. Candidates are still not aware how AICTE would treat this reserve day. Will it conduct the exam on January 29 only if too much rush is there or the second day will be used in the event of technical glitches or in case AICTE is not able to finalize and gets prepared to conduct the exam on January 28. The clarification from AICTE is still awaited.

CMAT 2017: Only in morning slot on Jan 28

CMAT 2017 will be held only in morning slot in 3 hours duration from 9.30AM to 12.30 afternoon on January 28 since January 29, 2017 is the ‘Reserve day’. There will not be any second slot on the same day.

Till 2PM on October 6, AICTE said ‘There will be no different time slots. Test will begin at 9:30 AM on 28th & 29th Jan 2017. Candidates are required to arrive at the test centre on or before 8:00 AM for Security checks, Identity verification, and check-in.’

At 5PM on October 6, 2016 AICTE says “There will be no different time slots. Test will begin at 9:30 AM on 28th Jan 2017. 29th Jan 2017 is a reserved day.”

CMAT 2017: Once a year test format
AICTE has changed the format of CMAT exam from the academic year 2016-17 onwards. Now  the CMAT exam will be conducted only once a year instead of twice a year earlier.

CMAT 2017 will be an online computer based test for admission to AICTE approved MBA/ PGDM courses 2017-19 batch across the country. No structural and content based changes in CMAT 2017 have been announced by AICTE.

Duration of CMAT 2017 will be of 3 hours from 9.30AM to 12.30PM.  This year it will be conducted in 2 days test window instead of a single day exam as held last year.

The computer-based online examination is more or less the same except that a candidate reads a question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer, instead of reading on a paper booklet and using a pencil/pen to darken the ovals on an answer sheet.  

CMAT 2017: Test Pattern
CMAT 2017 will be of 3 hours duration test. The test will consist of 100 multiple choice questions (MCQs) carrying 400 marks. 4 marks will be awarded for each correct answer. There shall be negative marking for wrong answers, for each wrong answer 1 mark shall be deducted.

A Trial test will be available from December 15, 2016 onwards for the candidates to have a feel of the online test and navigation functionality. AICTE has advised the candidates to go through the Trial Test carefully to familiarize themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.

At the test venue, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a scratch paper for calculations. After the test, candidate must leave the scratch paper at the desk. Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the testing room. No breaks will be given during the test.

The test will be divided in 4 sections with equal weightage of marks awarded to each section

Section

Number of questions

Total marks

Language Comprehension  

25

100

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation

25

100

Logical Reasoning

25

100

General Awareness

25

100

 
The reporting time at the test venue for CMAT 2017 is 90 minutes before the start of the exam. Accordingly the candidates will have to report at the test venue by 8AM on the designated date of January 28 as now January 29, 2017 has been declared Reserve Day by AICTE without any information what does it imply for test takers and what are the circumstances that could call for the use of this reserve day.

Registration & Application process for CMAT 2017 begins on October 10, 2016 and will close on December 10, 2016. You may expect more surprise and changes in the notification on CMAT 2017 before the registration process starts. The application process is online only although payment of application fee for Rs.1400/- (Rs.700/- for SC/ST/PD candidates) can also be made in cash at any branch of State Bank of India.
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) conducted by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) is the official gateway for admissions into the University MBA programs in thirteen states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Karnataka. The governments have officially notified CMAT as their official test. In addition, many B-schools offering PGDM programs will also be using the CMAT 2017 scores for the management courses beginning 2017.

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.

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