Low marks in board examinations will not prevent students from getting admission to their chosen undergraduate courses in Patna University this year if they can clear the entrance exam.

Last year, students in general and reserved categories had to score 50 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, in their boards to take the admission test. This criterion has been done away with this year.

“The university has decided not to have a cut-off mark for aspirants who want to take the admission test to the undergraduate courses,” said Patna University (PU) vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Sinha.

Students who have passed Intermediate or equivalent exam can apply for the admission test. A student has to score 45 per cent to pass the boards.

Explaining the new procedure, Rajneesh Kumar, a chemistry teacher at Patna Science College, said: “The college will prepare a merit list based on the entrance exam results. Students who feature on it will be called for interview or counselling. They would be admitted to a particular course based on their preference and the marks they score on the admission test.”

While applying, a student has to state his preferred subjects. For instance, a student applying to Patna Science College, where mathematics is most in demand, can state in his admission form that he wants to study maths, followed by physics and chemistry. His marks in the admission test will determine what subject he would be offered by the institution.

The other popular subjects at the college are zoology and botany.

Students, who have already started to collect forms from colleges, are happy with the development.

Anup Kumar, who came to Patna Science College on Wednesday, said: “Conducting admission tests is a very good idea. Other universities in Bihar should also follow it.”

The science graduate aspirant, who has scored 74 per cent in the Intermediate, said: “This will give an equal chance to students who have scored a little low in the boards for some reason or the other. Till two years back, only students with 80 per cent or above would get admission.”

The last date for submission of forms at most colleges is June 21. Entrance exams would be conducted in the first-half of July.

The examinations would be stream-specific rather than subject-specific. A student would have to take a 100-mark test, with 40 per cent of the questions on general knowledge and 60 per cent on their chosen stream.

Sources said the university authorities decided to do away with the cut-off marks this year because seats in a number of colleges remained vacant last year.

“The number of seats at many colleges was increased last year. Coupled with the cut-off marks, it resulted in seats remaining vacant at many colleges, including Patna College, considered to be one of the best institutions in east India,” said a source.

A senior teacher of Patna College, who did not want to be identified, said: “Last year, the admission process continued even after the first-year classes had started. By mid-August, only 450 of the 600 seats were filled.”

He added that students’ preference to vocational courses over traditional ones was another reason for the low admission. According to records available with Patna College, the subject that attracts the most students is economics.