The Engineering, Agriculture and Medicine Common Entrance Test, EAMCET-2013, will be held on May 10 this year for admissions for the 2013-14 academic year.
As per an estimate of examination convener and registrar of JNTU-Hyderabad NV Ramana Rao, students fewer students will appear for the test this year _ 2.61 lakh in the MPC stream (2.94 lakh last year) and 79,141 in the BPC stream (95,518 last year).
The number of MBBS seats is likely to go up this year owing to sanction of additional strength in various medical colleges including the Nizamabad Medical College. Though EAMCET for BPC stream is subject to the ruling of the Supreme Court over a petition filed against a common, nationwide National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses across the country, the examination will be held in the afternoon session between 2.30 pm and 5 pm on May 10. “We will not release the rank list for the examination until the apex court gives a verdict on petitions filed against conduct of NEET,” said Rao.
Year 2013 is likely to be the last EAMCET conducted for admissions into MBBS and BDS courses as the Union government has proposed implementation of NEET in order to reduce students’ burden to appear for exams.
Ranking criteria
“Ranks will be announced on June 2. In the case of students appearing for advanced supplementary examinations, the marks list received by us from the Board of Intermediate Education by May 30 will be considered,” the convener said.
Ranks will be based on 25 per cent weightage given to marks in relevant group subjects of Intermediate examination and 75 per cent weightage to marks secured in EAMCET. The pattern and complexity of questions will remain unchanged.
Further, the minimum qualifying marks for EAMCET examination has been set at 25 per cent, which translates to securing 40 out of total 160 marks. The criterion does not apply to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. “The final decision will be taken as per court’s directions,” said Rao.
The consortium of private engineering colleges had approached the court upholding the criterion of 25 per cent qualifying marks to include the weightage given to marks secured in Intermediate examinations, as specified in GO Ms No. 21. The governor had raised objection to candidates who scored zero in EAMCET but managed to secure a seat in engineering based on the weightage given to the Intermediate marks.
Changes introduced
In addition to the signature, principal’s attestation and left thumb impression of the candidate will be verified at the examination centre. The application forms will also include particulars regarding month and year of passing the SSC examination to stop ineligible candidates from appearing for EAMCET. The candidates have to fill in their mother’s name in addition to routine details in the online mode. Any corrections in the application forms can be made only at the convener’s or regional coordinator’s office.
“This is to avoid misuse of the login details by persons other than the candidates,” said Ramana Rao.
“We have also included Andhra Pradesh Open School Society as one of the qualifying examinations which make the candidate eligible to appear for the examination. Further, the students will have to confirm the medium of instruction followed for the qualifying examination. This is to benefit students from Urdu-medium schools and colleges in need of translated question papers,” added the convener.
An important change in the pattern of answering is the mandatory use of only blue or black ballpoint pen to mark answers. The fee for the registration will be payable through Payment Gateway, and at APOnline, e-Seva and Mee Seva centres.