Efforts are underway to hold a single national-level entrance test for students to get admission into engineering, medical and commerce courses from 2013, HRD minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said.

"Efforts will be put to hold an all-India national test in science and commerce from 2013. This will smoothen the admission process into engineering, medical, economics and commerce courses," Sibal said, addressing a meeting of the Council of School Board of Education (COBSE) here.

He said this would reduce burden on students who are appearing in multiple-tests for admission into these sources.

At the meeting, the COBSE said it has prepared a core-curriculum for senior secondary classes in science and mathematics subjects.

"There is 90 percent census among the school boards on the core-curriculum prepared on science and mathematics," Sibal said. A similar core curriculum will be prepared in commerce in three months.

Sibal had in August last year pitched for a uniform core curriculum for mathematics and science for all school boards. He had said a core curriculum could pave the way for a common entrance exam for admission to professional courses.