Elections and EAMCET have something in common, and that is the ‘count’, yes, scores do matter in both the fields! While the contestants are worried about their future, candidates are worried too about their prospective future.

Now let us see what EAMCET is all about. Broadly speaking, EAMCET is a common entrance test for students aspiring to seek admission in Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine and other allied professional courses in Andhra Pradesh. In other words, this is the gateway to admission into various professional courses offered in government and private colleges in Andhra Pradesh. This statewise exam is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH) on behalf of Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE).

In order to be eligible to take this test, a candidate has to be an Indian national. Secondly, a candidate should belong to the state of Andhra Pradesh satisfying local / nonlocal status requir-ement as laid down in A.P. Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission) order.

Thirdly, a candidate should have passed or appeared for the final year Intermediate (10+2) or any other examination recognized as equivalent thereto by the Intermediate Board, Andhra Pradesh. Moreover, a candidate must have studied certain subjects as optionals, which vary depending on the course a candidate opts for. For instance, a candidate desirous of taking admission to BSc (Agri) will have to take physical sciences, biological/natural sciences, agriculture or vocational courses in Agriculture.

Coming to the age criterion, it varies for different courses, for Engineering and B Pharm courses, a candidate should have completed 16 years of age by the date of commencement of admission or on such other date as may be notified by the Common Entrance Test committee, but in case of admission into MBBS/BDS/BAMS/ BHMS/BNYS courses and Pharma D course, a candidate should have completed 17 years of age as on 31st of December of the year of admission. The upper age limit is 22 years and in case of SC and ST, the same is 25 years as on 31st December of the year of admission.

Notably, EAMCET 2009 has attracted more candidates this year, the reason being 25% marks weightage of Intermediate Examination added to EAMCET score for assigning the rank.

The Career Guide speaks to Prof. LVAR Sarma, convener of EAMCET 2009 to know more aboutthe ensuing exam, which is scheduled to take place on 14th November 2009.

TCG: How is the response this year 2009 ?

LVAR SARMA: It is overwhelming. This year 311355 students are appearing for engineering and 65,499 for medicine, out of which nearly 14,000 candidates are for medicine and 15,000 for engineering from 2008, 2007, 2006 batches, and we even have Diploma / Polytechnic students. This is all because of weightage marks. It is going to be very taxing for us to sort out all these applications, approach the respective boards to obtain marks for giving 25% weightage marks for deciding EAMCET rank

TCG: How are the preparations for EAMCET - 2009?

SARMA: The committee has made all necessary arrangements to conduct the exam smoothly.
There are 606 test centre for engineering and 143 for medicine. Nearly 71,000 students for
engineering and 14,000 students for medicine are appearing for this test from twincities.

TCG: How are you arranging hall tickets to the candidates?

SARMA: Hall tickets are handed over to the candidates at the Regional Co-ordinating Centres. The hall tickets of the students who have not collected by hand their hall tickets are sent to the candidates through post.

TCG: What is the reason for more applications to engineering stream compared to medical?

SARMA: It is because, engineering graduatesget immediate employment, compared to medicine. Number of colleges and seats are mole in engineering stream and cost wise
engineering education is cheaper than medicine engineering as usual is calling more
and more students but medicine is dropping. More over students do not want to spend 6-8
years studying and specializing only, that would mean that the primetime of their career would be gone in studies only. In spite of free education for students whose parental income is less than one lakh, for both medicine as well as engineering, interest of students in medicine is dropping.

TCG: Do you find it difficult to identify centers for exam due to election?

SARMA: Initially yes ! There was an impact, as counting was taking place in many centers. We had problems in Nellore, Kakinada and Guntur. The only reason being no prior confirmation on
centers, obviously priority is to the elections. Anyway, problems got resolved and we stuck to
the date announced.

TCG: Is there any provision for getting duplicate hall ticket? If so, where can they get it and how?

SARMA: There are students who have submitted more than one application; we are in the process of elimination. And all the eligible candidates who have not received can approach the regional coordinators to obtain duplicate Hall tickets.

TCG: Is there any facility to know the center details like location, address over phone?

SARMA: Yes. The students can log onto the website www.apeamcet.org and call our Hyderabad office for such details. Ph : 040 – 64543718, 23054461, 23055216.

TCG: What arrangements are made at examination center?

SARMA: We have written letters to APSEB and APSRTC, regarding power supply and buses. We
also have drinking water facilities.

TCG: Are there any changes in EAMCET pattern?

SARMA: No change in the pattern so far.

TCG: When are you releasing “Key”?

SARMA: Probably one week after the exam.

TCG: Every year some mistakes are takingplace in EAMCET question paper. What about this year?

SARMA: Mistakes never happen intentionally.In spite of the fact that we have experts setting the paper, things do go wrong. We took utmost care for things to go well this time.

TCG: Could you please explain how you will calculate weightage marks?

SARMA: It is 25% of the total marks secured in inter exam and 75% of the EAMCET score.

TCG: If a student fails in Intermediate but gets good score in EAMCET, what would be the scoring for him or her?

SARMA: Since the EAMCET RANK is a combination of EAMCET score & intermediate weightage marks if the candidate fails in either of the exams the rank will not be allotted to him or her. But they can get the EAMCET score.

TCG: Do you release rank for all IPE students on EAMCET results day or wait for instant exam?

SARMA: We are not releasing the EAMCET ranks till we get the scores of advanced supplementary candidates.

TCG: What about duplicate hall ticket?

SARMA: While distributing OMR sheets in the test centers, a student needs to verify if he/ she has received his or her OMR or anybody else’s. We have buffer OMR sheets extra.

TCG: Are there any contact numbers in case of emergency?

SARMA: It is there in the website www.apeamcet.org

TCG: Any suggestions to students appearing the exam?

SARMA: I would like to give a piece of advice to the students that they need to know the time
management. Especially as the number has increased, we are thinking of having test centers in remote areas too. It is always good in such cases to take a look at the test centers a day before. Prepare well and do not get nervous in the last moment. Just give your best. Good Luck!