Many students reported that forms for DNB CET were finished even before the lunch break on 3rd Oct 2012, the first day of availability of forms at Axis Bank branches. This shows that NBE has grossly underestimated the number of required forms for this session of CET. We received reports for non availability of forms at many branches of Delhi, for example Barahkhamba road branch, Safdarjung Enclave, then at Assam and many branches in South India.
This caused a lot of problems and uncertainty among the students. They are also tensed as they fear of not getting the exam center slot at the centers near to their home towns.

According to the DNB CET twitter account (@DNBCET) many students are complaining of slots being housefull at almost all the exam centers even before 2PM i.e. 5hrs after the opening of registration of DNB CET.

If you faced this problem that is nonavailability of Forms or exam slot reply to this post with the Axis bank branch where the forms are not available or the exam slot which is not available to let us know.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today strongly opposed the Centre's move to conduct All India Common Entrance Test for admission to UG and PG courses in medical colleges and reiterated her demand that Tamilnadu be exempted from it.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the media here, she said Tamilnadu should be exempted from this and allowed to continue with its existing system for admission to UG and PG Medical seats.

Jayalalithaa expressed surprise and distress over the unilateral decision taken by the Centre without taking into account the protests and in spite of the stay against the Common Entrance Test obtained in the Madras High Court which holds good until it was vacated or until the writ petition was disposed of.

Jayalalithaa said the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare had earlier assured that the States would be consulted and their views considered before evolving any policy decision with regard to the conduct of an All India Common Entrance Test.

The Tamilnadu government had also given its views, specifically stating that the All India Common Entrance Test would interfere with the rights of the State government in administering the education system and would create problems in implementing the reservation policy followed uniquely in the State.

'Even after repeated requests, by this public notice, it is now clear that the Central Government has not considered our case and has gone ahead with the decision to implement the Common Entrance Test and in the notice has stated that NEET-PG is a mandatory test for gaining entry to MD/MS/PG Diploma courses in all medical colleges under the ambit of post graduate medical education of the Medical Council of India'', she said.

Jayalalithaa recalled her earlier letter to the Prime Minister in which she had registered the State's protest on the issue.

However, despite the State’s protest the Union government has notified the National Board of Examination (NBE) for conducting the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for Post Graduate Courses and has gone ahead issuing a public notice for admission to MD and MS Post Graduate Diploma Courses for the 2013 session.

The Tamilnadu government had already taken a policy decision to abolish the entrance examination for professional courses.

'This was done after detailed examination by an Expert Committee which found that such Common Entrance Tests put rural students from poor socio economic backgrounds at a disadvantage due to lack of geographical and financial access to requisite training institutions and materials', she pointed out.

Jayalalithaa said the State government has reserved 50 per cent of its PG medical seats for doctors who have completed three years of rural service with special weightage for those working in hilly and tribal areas.

'The government has also successfully obtained and enforced bonds from those completing Post Graduate education in Government Medical Colleges to serve the State for a minimum period, which has helped to meet the need for specialist medical manpower', she said.

Jayalalithaa said 'it will be legally difficult to implement these policy initiatives if a Common Entrance Test is introduced as we would have to fall in line with the regulations of the National Test, which may not have such enabling provisions'.




Sources:
 http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jaya-opposes-all-india-cet-for-ug-pg-medical-courses-saying-it-will-hit-reservation-policy/1010333/

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=28777%20&%20section=6

Published on natboard website. Link to PDF file...

click here for pdf from natboard

 RESULTS - EQUATING & SCALING

The question paper of DNB CET comprises of 180 multiple choice questions each with four options and only one correct response. Multiple question papers are used for DNB CET for different sessions and days.
A standard psychometrically-sound approach is employed for the scoring process of DNB CET. This approach has been applied to score all large scale Computer Based Examination utilizing multiple question papers.

Step 1: Calculation of Raw Marks

Raw marks are calculated based on the number of questions answered correctly, incorrectly or omitted.

Correct Answer	+1 point
Incorrect Answer	-0.1 point (10%)
Omitted	0 point

Step 2: Raw Marks are equated

While all question papers (forms) are carefully assembled to ensure that the content is comparable, the difficulty of each form may be perceived by different subjects undertaking the test to slightly vary. Such minor differences in the overall difficulty level are accurately measured after all the different question papers have been administered and the results analyzed. A post-equating process is necessary to ensure validity and fairness.
Equating is a psychometric process to adjust differences in difficulty so that scores from different question papers are comparable on a common metric and therefore fair to candidates testing across multiple papers. To facilitate this comparison, each form contains a pre-defined number of questions (items) selected from a large item bank, called an equating block, which is used as an anchor to adjust candidates scores to the metric of the item bank. Taking into account of candidates' differential performance on these equating blocks, each individual's raw marks are adjusted for difference in question paper difficulties.
During post-equating, test items are concurrently analyzed and the estimated item parameters (item difficulty and discrimination) are put onto a common metric. Item Response Theory (IRT), a psychometrically supported statistical model, is utilized in this process. The result is a statistically equated raw score that takes into account the performance of the candidate along with the difficulty of the form administered.

Step 3: Equated raw score is scaled

 In order to ensure appropriate interpretation of an equated raw score, the scores must be placed on a common scale or metric. A linear transformation is used for this scaling process, which is a standard practice for such test administration.
Post equating takes into account any statistical differences in examination difficulty and ensures all candidates are evaluated on a common scale.
The aforesaid steps ensure that all examination scores are valid, equitable and fair.

Criteria for Qualifying DNB CET- July 2012:

The scaled scores for DNB CET will range from 0 to 800.

S.No.	Category	Passing Criteria	Minimum score required
1. 2. 3.	General  SC/ST/OBC  PWD	50% of score 40% of score 45% of score	400/800 320/800 360/800

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Scoring & Results:

a. How are raw marks calculated?

Raw marks are calculated based on the number of questions answered correctly, incorrectly, or omitted. Each correct answer will be awarded one (1) point, and 0.1 point will be deducted for each wrong answer. Questions left unanswered will be awarded zero (0) point.

b. What happens after raw marks are calculated?

Like all large-scale exams, CET will utilize multiple question papers (forms), or versions, of the test. While all forms are carefully assembled from question bank to ensure that the content is comparable, the difficulty of each form may be perceived to vary slightly by the subject undertaking the exam. Such minor differences in the overall difficulty level are rectified through a process called equating. Equating assures fairness for all candidates by allowing accurate comparisons to be made of performance across all of the test forms. Equated raw scores are then placed on a common scale or metric to ensure appropriate interpretation of the scores. This process is called scaling.

c. How will I know if I have been successful in the CET?

Your scaled score will be made available on the NBE website. A candidate who scores a minimum of 50% (45% for PWD & 40% for SC, ST and OBC candidate) on a scaled score range shall be declared as successful. Merit List shall be prepared on the basis of scaled score obtained by the candidates.
Candidates will be called in order of their merit position, to participate in the centralized counseling to exercise their choice of specialty and institution. This will continue until the allotted seats are filled, before the cutoff date prescribed for joining.

d. What happens if I obtain the same scaled score as another candidate?

In the event two or more candidates obtaining the same scaled score, the merit position shall be determined by the number of wrong responses of these candidates. The candidate with the lesser number of wrong responses shall be placed at a higher merit. If there is still a tie, date of birth shall be considered to determine inter-se-merit, i.e. an elder candidate shall be placed at a higher merit.

e. When will the merit list be available?

The merit list is likely to be available in second half of September 2012.

f. How long are my results valid for?

The results for DNB CET held in August 2012 are valid for the admission to July
2012 admission session only.