Date:04/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/04/stories/2007050419570200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

They walked out with more confidence

Staff Reporter

Student take the Mock CET seriously

REHEARSAL: Candidates at writing the Mock CET organised by The Hindu EducationPlus at RBANM's PU College in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: With the Common Entrance Test (CET) and the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) just round the corner, engineering and medical seat aspirants across the State are an anxious lot. To help them polish their test-taking skills and to be better prepared to handle the challenges posed by the twin tests, The Hindu Education Plus had arranged its "Mock CET 2007" on Thursday in Bangalore, Mangalore, Hubli and Gulbarga.

Turning out in big numbers, the students showed just why they were so keen to get a high score in the real test. Accompanied by their parents, the boys and girls stepped into the RBANM's PU College in Bangalore to take the test for which the city-based Vishwa Bharathi Institute had prepared the question papers. The Mock CET, a regular annual event of The Hindu Education Plus, was sponsored this year by State Bank of Mysore, Garden City College, Manipal Education and the Oxford Educational Institutions.

The test started off with Physics and Chemistry in the morning session. After a break of 20 minutes, the candidates were back to take the Mathematics paper. Medical seat aspirants returned to take the Biology paper. At the end of it all, they walked out with more confidence. Answer keys of the test awaited them at the website (www. vishwabharati.org) and Friday's edition of The Hindu .

For Anusha J., "these mock tests are very helpful as they give me an idea on how to manage my time while attempting the test." Although crash courses and coaching centres were not too popular among students, mock examinations were apparently sought after because they provided a practical component and were more helpful in tackling the real thing.

Year after year, there was growth in the number of students attempting these tests. Now, it seemed the right time to ask a question to the parents, that of parental pressure. Most parents at the Mock CET did not agree that they pressured their children in their career choices. Career choice was largely left to students, they said.

Mr. Jagadish P., father of a candidate who had chosen engineering as his stream, said, "the decision was completely left to my son, we did not pressure him to take up any course, but since he has chosen the examination, we have laid down strict guidelines that he has to follow."