Competence in Software Technology (CST) Examination in India

“ I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was possible for me to execute myself.” These words of Montesquieu are what you would have to go by for this particular one. Competence in Software technology (CST) examination is an annually held (normally around January-February) nation-wide examination, which proposes to assess the conceptual practical and knowledge skills of the candidates. And sorry to burst the bubble but there is no organization, which has been given the legal approval or certification of the government to provide any coaching for this examination. Hence, unlike many other exams in this country like CAT, MAT, IIT-JEE and so on and so forth, which have several coaching classes available country-wide to provide guidance and to prepare the aspiring candidates, this one demands only personal dedication and individual study to clear it.

There are 2 main purposes that this exam can serve for you. It can aid you in seeking employment in the IT industry or it can also assist you in acquiring admission in post graduate courses like MCA (Master of Computer Application), PPM (Principal of Project Management), Post Graduate Program in Management, M.sc (Information Technology) in various educational institutes such as Alliance Business Academy, Bengaluru University; Goa University; International School of Business, Navi Mumbai and Bengaluru; and a few others.

This examination is held in 3 levels, which are level E, level D and level G. If you are a graduate with minimum 50% marks, then you are eligible to apply for this examination. However if you possess a background in computer science, then you have an edge over the others, as you will be given preference over them. Spread over a time span of 1 hour this exam is of the objective type with multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer scores you 3 marks while each incorrect answer will get you a negative mark.   Don’t fret. Just make sure you sleep well before the exam so that you don’t suffer an attention deficit in the morning and end up marking the wrong options even though you may well know the answer.

This exam will also help you get short listed for interviews for employment at C-DAC Mumbai, Electronics City, Bangalore and other centers. Also, for selection as students for the postgraduate diploma courses at the above mentioned centers, such as PGDST (Post Graduate Diploma in Software Technology) and FPGDST (Full Time Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Software Technology).

Each level in this exam such as level E, D and G, is applicable to different objectives. For instance, if you are looking for admission to courses like PGDST, FPGDST, MCA and the like then level E or D will be best suited for you. If your goal is recruitment as staff scientist, assistant manager, project engineer or visiting engineer at CDAC then level G will be ideal. Every level has a compulsory General Aptitude paper and the computer Concepts and basics need to be strong for all 3 levels. There are certain other optional papers from which you will need to make choices in each level. These options include subjects such as software engineering, java technology, web technology and C programming (CP) etc.

The detailed syllabus for each level can be procured from the official website of CST,http://cst.cdacmumbai.in/. All the details of the examination are systematically laid out and hence after that it is entirely the effort of the student that can make him sail through this exam. A little perseverance and good knowledge of computers and mathematical aptitude are beneficial assets for clearing this examination. Of course not to get bogged down by the fact that there is no coaching available for this exam, but to maintain a determined attitude will go a long way in helping the ideal candidate score well in this exam. So if you have always been a curious one where computer science and software is concerned, and made it your business to know the nitty-gritty of everything connected with computers then this one is for you. Go ahead and crack it.