CMAT 2012: Top B-schools shun CMAT; tier-II & III go for it

CMAT 2012: Top B-schools shun CMAT; tier-II & III go for it: "CMAT allows the better of the two test scores to be used for admissions. By the time results of the second CMAT, scheduled for February next year, is declared, our admission process will almost be over: SPJIMR
While the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) has been able to bring most of the tier-II and tier-III management institutions into its fold, top B-schools have shunned the AICTE-conducted national-level management entrance exam for their admissions.

Like the previous year, most of the top B-schools have refused to accept CMAT scores for their admission process.  The CMAT entrance test is just a month away, but many top B-schools are either undecided on accepting CMAT or have decided to go ahead without including CMAT scores for their admission process.

Top B-schools like SPJIMR, IMI, TAPMI and BIMTECH have decided not to accept CMAT for their admission process. The Supreme Court in an order in July this year, had extended the stay on the AICTE notification on PGDM autonomy and allowed PGDM institutions to continue with their admissions for academic session 2013-14 through any of the five national tests viz. CAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA and CMAT."

S P Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) said it is not sure if accepting CMAT scores is practically feasible. “As CMAT allows the better of the two test scores to be used for the admission, I don’t think we will be able to accommodate that. By the time results of second CMAT which is scheduled in February next year is declared, our admission process would almost be over. Therefore, it is an impractical proposition for us to accept CMAT scores,” said Dr R Sesha Iyer, director of SPJIMR. 

AICTE chairman Dr SS Mantha had earlier said the CMAT examination will be held twice a year. After the September/October test, the next examination would be conducted in January-February 2013. According to the AICTE, students can take both the exams and the better of the two scores will be accepted for the admission process. 

Official sources from Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad (IMT, Ghaziabad) also confirmed that the institute will not consider CMAT scores. “The institute, however, will be accepting CMAT for admissions to its campuses in Nagpur and Hyderabad like the previous year,” said Dr Lubna Nafees, chairperson- corporate communications and media relations, IMT Ghaziabad.

International Management Institute (IMI) will continue with its practice of accepting CAT scores for all its campuses.  Dr Pritam Singh, director-General, IMI, said, “We have been conducting our admissions based on CAT scores for many years. We find it the right fit for our admission process. We will be continuing with the same.” When asked whether any of the campuses of IMI would accept the CMAT score for the admission to the upcoming academic year, he said “Our experience has been good with CAT scores and we will like to continue with the same for admissions to all our campuses.”  

BIMTECH director H Chaturvedi said, “BIMTECH will continue to accept scores of CAT, XAT and MAT. “We will continue to accept CAT and XAT only for our regular two-year management programmes. However, we will consider MAT scores for about 30 per cent seats in sector programmes,” he said. 

TAPMI director Dr R C Natarajan said the institute will not be accepting CMAT for their admission process as they take a very cautious approach towards this. “We have been accepting CAT scores primarily for admissions to our different programmes. A few years back, we had added XAT and now we have added GMAT scores as well. But we have not yet added CMAT to our admission process,” he said, adding, “For now, there is a strict ‘no’ for CMAT.” 

However, some institutes like SDMIMD-Maysore and IFIM-Bangalore say they will accept CMAT along with other scores.  “We are temporarily accepting CMAT scores. We are an AICTE-approved institution and we respect the regulatory body. So, we will be accepting CMAT along with other national-level entrances like CAT and XAT,” said Dr N R Parasuraman, director, SDM Institute of Management Development, Mysore. IFIM Bangalore director Dr BP Pethiya confirmed that CMAT score would be accepted by the institute for its admission process. 

Some institutes like NITIE and MDI are still in the process of deciding whether to consider CMAT score for their admission process.

However, most of the tier II and tier III institutes are open to accepting CMAT scores for their admission process. For example, institutions like XISS, Ranchi, will be accepting CMAT scores. 

Aspirants who are preparing for tier II and tier III B-schools are hopeful that they would be able to secure admissions through CMAT. “I read the advertisement of AICTE which says all the B-schools would be accepting CMAT score. I hope that I get the best options to choose from on the basis of my CMAT score,” said an aspirant who will be taking CMAT this month. 

AICTE had announced that the first CMAT exam for admission in the academic year 2013-15 is scheduled from September 27 to October 1, 2012. The registration process is on and the last date to register is September 2. The exam will be held in 64 cities across India. The scores of CMAT will be applicable for over 3,500 MBA programs offered by various universities of India.

“States like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland and Goa have accepted CMAT as the sole test for the admission in the MBA programs conducted by state universities,” AICTE chairman had told MBAUniverse.com earlier. 

So, instead of holding state-level tests like MAH CET (Maharashtra), UPSEE (Uttar Pradesh), and RMAT (Rajasthan), etc for admission for the academic year 2013-15, the states will accept the CMAT scores, he added. The number of seats offered by the MBA and PGDM programs approved by AICTE for the year 2011-12 was 3,52,571. Besides IIMs and IITs, 3,644 MBA institutes in India are approved by the AICTE.