Will JBIMS (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies) accept CET 2016 scores for the 2016-18 admission process is probably the most frequently asked question this season. With various coaching institutes maintaining a positive stance on this and citing their inside sources (really!?), we thought of exploring it from various perspectives and offering our take.
Background: In November 2014, JBIMS announced the 2015-17 admission process. This was the first ‘independent’ process conducted by JBIMS as the process was earlier conducted by DTE (centralized) via CAP rounds post CET.
JBIMS shortlisted applicants based on their CAT and MBA MAH/MMS CET scores.
JBIMS 2015-17 Cutoffs
Things were pretty smooth with everyone ready to crack CET 2015 but it turned out to be a disaster. That’s how candidates described their CET experience. The papers in both the slots were ridiculously simple, there were technical glitches. Add to that 19 and 11 incorrect questions in slot 1 and slot 2, respectively. Because of this ‘mismanaged’ management test, candidates started speculating that JBIMS would stop accepting CET scores in the future and that discussion has continued till date.
The latest JBIMS update is:
Admission process for MMS 2016-2018 batch will start by December end. Keep checking the website for updates.
Let us try and put some sense in the discussion:
Why should JBIMS continue to accept CET scores?
Since time immemorial, JBIMS has accepted CET scores. That makes CET a time tested model and that model has worked well. There are a lot of stakeholders involved; DTE being the biggest stakeholder. If JBIMS decides to opt out, DTE will lose out on a lot of candidates.
Last year, JBIMS had announced the process in the month of November. This year, JBIMS is yet to announce the process and frankly, it is quite late. A lot of candidates, for various reasons, rely only on CET and not accepting CET 2016 scores will be a huge injustice to such aspirants.
Why JBIMS should move on?
Because DTE faltered. You simply can’t put incorrect questions in a test. That shows negligence and an institute like JBIMS will think twice before taking CET scores. What if DTE doesn’t learn anything from what happened last year and repeats the same mistake?
Last year, admissions were delayed by almost 1-2 months because of student agitations and court case. DTE had to accept their goof up and then offered explanation behind the way scores were calculated. That did not do any good to candidates who had suffered, who had kept all their hopes on CET and were actually expecting a good score (candidates who were getting 99+ percentile in mocks, got less than 90 percentile in the actual test. I am pretty sure that goof ups from 99+ percentilers will never throw them another 10 percentile down in the ranking.)
Also, JBIMS has already started accepting CAT scores and that brings in diversity to the batch and improves the overall profile of the batch. 1.7 lac+ candidates taking a test is a huge opportunity. If JBIMS is content with the kind of batch that got in last year, JBIMS can always decide to stick to CAT only and chuck CET.
What DTE should do
Six years back, about 1 lac candidates used to take CET which was a paper pencil test. CET became an online test after a few years and since then there has been a steady decline in the number of test takers. Thousands of seats remain vacant at the end of the admission process every year. If a loss of 50,000 test takers and revenue hasn’t grabbed DTE’s attention, I don’t know what will. DTE must revamp the test. Take it back to its glory by bringing the difficulty and quality back to the 2007-08-09 level and execute it flawlessly. Till that happens, the future of CET is anybody’s guess.
What should candidates do?
If JBIMS decides not to accept CET, you can’t do anything. Don’t believe the so-called experts. They don’t know anything. Be smart enough to understand that such claims are made to gather eye-balls. JBIMS announcement will not go unnoticed. Keep visiting the website and don’t believe in other random sources. Also, start preparing for CET 2016 and take as many mocks as you can.
Considering everything, in my personal opinion, JBIMS should accept CET scores. At least for the 2016-18 admission process. They can always decide to move out for 2017-19, but taking that call now is going to be a bummer for all concerned stakeholders.
Useful links:
Learningroots CET mocks | CET Sectional Tests
JBIMS website | JBIMS 2015-17 process
DTE website | DTE MBA/MMS CET 2015-17
P. S. – If you are in Mumbai on the 27th of December, do attend our free session on CET 2016 preparation.
