Ranchi, April 11: The decision of human resource development minister Murli Manohar Joshi to hold the CBSE pre-medical test again within a week has received mixed response from medical aspirants in the city.

About 8,000 students appeared for the examination that was cancelled at centres across the state capital.

The three-hour test had 200 questions on physics, chemistry, botany and zoology. About 2.5 lakh students from across the country had appeared for the test.

The revised dates would be announced by CBSE authorities tomorrow.

“I think it’s a good decision. I am glad the minister has at least realised the importance of time,” said Amit Verma, who had passed out from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bhurkunda.

However, there were others who did not like the decision. “I don’t get this. How will they arrange everything in a week? There is so much to be done. Question papers have to be re-printed and exam centres have to be allotted. How will the same admit card hold valid for the re-exam?” argued Ankesh Singh, another student.

The medical aspirant has completed his intermediate in science from St Xavier’s College, Ranchi.

“It was not a great paper for me. Since it is the most prestigious medical entrance exam after the one for the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, I wanted to perform to the best of my ability. But it did not happen. I was planning to revise all the topics as I expected the test to be postponed by at least a month,” he added.

CBSE chairman Ashok Ganguly had said on Saturday that the board was prepared for any eventuality and it had alternate sets of papers ready.

The test was cancelled after Delhi police seized question papers, from two persons on Saturday.

The joint commissioner of police (crime), New Delhi, B.K. Gupta, had said that Rakesh Kumar Verma of Dhanbad and Vikas Verma of Agra had been arrested at about 9 pm from Pili Kothi in the New Ashok Nagar area.

According to him, 13 examinees, including five girls, had also been detained for questioning. Gupta added that Vikas was an MBBS student of a medical college in Nagpur.