Do Not Treat CATE as an IIT-JEE Exam

DON’T TREAT CATE AS AN IIT-JEE EXAM

SUMANYU SATPATHY,HEAD,ENGLISH DEPARTMENT,DELHI UNIVERSITY,TALKS TO SURBHI BHATIA TO CLEAR CONFUSION OVER CATE (COMMON ADMISSION TEST FOR ENGLISH) FOR ADMISSION TO ENGLISH (HONOURS) IN 17 COLLEGES OF DU

DESPITE the English department taking proactive steps to provide details about the test, there seems to be confusion among students about forms, test centres and preparation for the test.

The English department has made all efforts to provide details in the information bulletin being distributed with the CATE form. However, both parents and students are not in the habit of reading the fine print, which leads to confusion. I would request all candidates to read the information bulletin carefully to know how to procure the form, test centres, submission deadlines, and so on.

Students also want to know about syllabus and preparation strategy for CATE.

There is no defined syllabus for CATE. We have a culture in our country to have a set syllabi for an entrance exam. Students are in the habit of rote-learning during their preparation. However, CATE as an exam will try to evaluate students on their aptitude for literature. Of course, some parts of the test will evaluate students on their knowledge but a larger section will consist of evaluating aptitude. Students do not need any preparation. It is their previous reading and their understanding of literature that will help them crack the entrance. It is a fun test and students should not treat it as an IIT-JEE exam.

What do you mean when you say one should have an ‘aptitude for literature’?

Aptitude means your ability to critically analyse a given sentence or a paragraph. Today, a lot of information is available on the Net. People have started writing blogs. But you cannot absorb any given information. One needs to question and analyse, find meaning in the written sentences.

The English department has spent a long time in debating and researching on why do we need ‘aptitude’ to select a candidate. There are many students from non-urban backgrounds who want to study English Literature. They may not be aware who won the Booker’s prize or who Harry Potter is. This does not disqualify them for studying literature. There are also many students who are more familiar with their vernacular literature rather than English or European literature.

Hence, a test for English (Honours) should be devised in a way that it evaluates a candidate’s natural adaptability to read and understand literature in general rather than having a knowledge of British or European literature. With CATE, we want to counter the belief that English (Honours) is a subject that is meant for a higher strata of people who had the privilege to read English Literature and had a training in writing. We want to give a fair chance to every section of students.

Does this mean CATE will not evaluate students on their English skills?

It is important to use correct grammar and correct syntax. But more than that it is important to communicate what you mean. We are moving away from the old school of thought that a student should be strictly penalised if he/she does not use correct English. During our evaluation of the answer-scripts, teachers try to find out whether the student has understood the meaning of a topic instead of how effectively he/she has written an answer. If a student has written elaborate sentences but fails to communicate the meaning, he/she will not score well.

What will be the pattern of CATE?

CATE will be divided into two sections. Section 1 will have multiple-choice questions; section 2 will have descriptive questions. Students will be required to give short answers within 250 to 300 words under section 2. Last year we evaluated both the sections. However, this year only those who clear section 1 will be evaluated in section 2.

Do you think objective-type questions can evaluate students on their critical thinking pattern?

This was a major challenge faced by the committee that created the question-bank. However, these objective-type questions are not quizzes that ask students about a fact. CATE is only in its second year and we will try to devise better methods to evaluate the aptitude.

On one hand you claim to give a fair chance to students from non-urban backgrounds and on the other hand, SC/ST candidates are exempted from the test.

This is a university decision that all SC/ST candidates’ admission will be through Dean, Students’ Welfare Office and the English department cannot do anything about it. However, students under the OBC category are required to appear for the CATE exam, although we will give 10% concession to OBC candidates once the colleges declare the CATE cut-off marks.

Do students need to apply separately in various colleges to take admission to English (Honours)?

Students seeking admission in English (Honours) offered by those colleges that are subscribing to CATE score, need not fill the OMR form. However, there are some colleges who are not subscribing to the CATE score, for those colleges they need the OMR form.

How do you procure the form?

Students need to get a demand draft of Rs 300 from the State Bank of India in favour of ‘Registrar, Delhi University’ to procure the form. It is a one-time payment, they don’t need to give any fee at the time of submission of the form.

Any message for CATE aspirants?

Do not stress yourself about preparation. Those who go with a stress-free mind will come out with flying colours. Also students are advised to carry black ball-point pen and HB pencil.

FACT FILE

• CATE colleges: 17

• Number of seats: 500-600 for general category

• Last date: May 31, 2010

• CATE test: June 9, 2010

• Declaration of CATE score: June 21, 2010

• Declaration of first cut-off list: June 22, 2010

Source : Times of India