New Delhi: The Common Aptitude Test for English is likely to be discontinued by DU, this year, due to the implementation of the new four-year-undergraduate degree course. DU conducts CATE to select students for admissions into BA English (honours) course offered in its 21 affiliated colleges. Instead, the University is planning to enroll students on the basis of Class XII marks.
CATE was conducted for the first time in the year 2010. While in the first CATE, 17 colleges participated, the number increased to 25 in 2011 and in 2012, 21 colleges, including Hindu, Lady Shri Ram, IP College, Kirori Mal and Zakir Husain (evening), accepted the test scores to enroll students.
As per the University officials, CATE is likely to be put on hold for the time being considering the fact of the introduction of the new four-year-undergraduate programme. The Officials also added that, by this time, the English department starts preparing for the test after receiving the confirmations from different colleges of their participation.
A senior university official has informed that all departments are busy preparing the course. There is only one-and-half months left for the University’s admission process to start. However, the University administration is yet engaged with the preparation of the implementation of the new undergraduate programme. The English department, which used to conduct the test, is also busy with the course design. Besides, he added that the university is planning to keep the admission process simple, instead of having multiple procedures.
As per sources in the university administration, though a final decision is yet to be taken, chances are more of CATE exam not happening this year as has been suggested by the English department. In addition, the administration and the admission committee are also of the opinion that in case the department or colleges wish to have an entrance exam it can be re-introduced in the next academic session.
