At least 1,000 candidates on Wednesday signed up for the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test  (Tancet) on the first day of registration. Candidates aspiring to pursue MBA, MCA, ME, MTech, MArch and MPlan courses in institutions across the state are required to take the test.

Many candidates also downloaded the registration forms online. "Last year 90,000 candidates took the test. We expect the number to be around 95,000 to 1 lakh this year," said Tancet secretary G Nagarajan.

The expected number is much higher than the 70,000 entries for the Common Management Admission Test conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education for admission to management courses in institutions across the country.

Tancet, usually conducted towards May-end , will be conducted in March this year. "We received representations from students saying if it is conducted in May, it will clash with other competitive exams. So, we decided to conduct it in March," Nagarajan said. While MBA and MCA aspirants can take the test on March 31, students who want to pursue ME, MTech, MArch or MPlan will have to take the test on April 4.

The test will be conducted in Chennai, Coimbatore, Chidambaram , Dindigul, Erode, Karaikudi , Madurai, Nagercoil, Salem, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Vellore, Villupuram and Virudhunagar. Registration forms can be downloaded online. Spot registrations are open till February 23.

In Chennai, February 25 is the last date.