<p>The Karnataka Management Aptitude Test (KMAT), the gateway for entry into over 200 colleges offering MBA and MCA courses in the State, is all set to become a pan-India examination on the lines of the Common Admission Test (CAT) and Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT).<br /><br /></p>.<p>The initiative is aimed at boosting admissions to these courses, which have been on the decline over the years and also to turn Karnataka into a favourite destination for pursuing MBA and MCA courses. The Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges’ Association (KPPGCA), which conducts the test, has already hired a consultant and a number of best practices of various national level tests are being suggested to be incorporated into the new KMAT format.<br /><br />For example, entrance tests such as the CAT and the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) have conveners who are the representatives for the test. In a similar manner, KMAT may also soon have its own convener. Other practices such as holding the test over a period of 30 days rather than just one day, making the test paper pencil-based or an online test, letting aspirants access sample question papers of previous year’s test - are some of the suggestions that are being made. <br /><br />According to Amit Agnihothri, Chairman, MBAUniversive.com, a portal for MBA preparation, the CAT saw over two lakh registrations last year. Similarly, around 70,000 students had registered for the CMAT. <br /><br />Even private MBA entrance tests such as the Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT) saw as many as 54,000 registrations. Agnihotri is being consulted by the KPGCA on a plan of action to popularise the KMAT on a national scale. <br /><br />With KMAT, however, it has been a different scenario. “The KMAT registrations have never crossed 15,000. Even the government seats that are subsidised are hardly filled,” said M Prakash, secretary, KPPGCA. <br /><br />“The government has given us oral permission to hold the test outside the State and we will work on making the test a pan India one from this year itself. From next year onwards, we are planning to hold the test twice a year,” Prakash added. <br /> <br />Bharat Lal Meena, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, was unavailable for comment. <br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>The Karnataka Management Aptitude Test (KMAT), the gateway for entry into over 200 colleges offering MBA and MCA courses in the State, is all set to become a pan-India examination on the lines of the Common Admission Test (CAT) and Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT).<br /><br /></p>.<p>The initiative is aimed at boosting admissions to these courses, which have been on the decline over the years and also to turn Karnataka into a favourite destination for pursuing MBA and MCA courses. The Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges’ Association (KPPGCA), which conducts the test, has already hired a consultant and a number of best practices of various national level tests are being suggested to be incorporated into the new KMAT format.<br /><br />For example, entrance tests such as the CAT and the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) have conveners who are the representatives for the test. In a similar manner, KMAT may also soon have its own convener. Other practices such as holding the test over a period of 30 days rather than just one day, making the test paper pencil-based or an online test, letting aspirants access sample question papers of previous year’s test - are some of the suggestions that are being made. <br /><br />According to Amit Agnihothri, Chairman, MBAUniversive.com, a portal for MBA preparation, the CAT saw over two lakh registrations last year. Similarly, around 70,000 students had registered for the CMAT. <br /><br />Even private MBA entrance tests such as the Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT) saw as many as 54,000 registrations. Agnihotri is being consulted by the KPGCA on a plan of action to popularise the KMAT on a national scale. <br /><br />With KMAT, however, it has been a different scenario. “The KMAT registrations have never crossed 15,000. Even the government seats that are subsidised are hardly filled,” said M Prakash, secretary, KPPGCA. <br /><br />“The government has given us oral permission to hold the test outside the State and we will work on making the test a pan India one from this year itself. From next year onwards, we are planning to hold the test twice a year,” Prakash added. <br /> <br />Bharat Lal Meena, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, was unavailable for comment. <br /><br /><br /></p>
