The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have decided to apologise to each of the 2.41 lakh aspirants who appeared for the Common Admission Test (CAT) this year, as well as their parents.
The IIMs have asked Prometric, the US-based agency that conducted the online CAT, to send out the e-mails as it has the database.
Technical issues and virus problems marred the competitive entrance test, which went online for the first time this year.
The 11 days of the CAT were chaotic across all centres in the country with servers crashing, miscommunication and other glitches.
“We really regret what has happened and the problem it has caused candidates and their families. We have asked Prometirc to send out apologies. Going online was a big step and we wish it had gone more smoothly,” said Satish Deodhar, convenor of CAT from IIM-Ahmedabad.
The test began on November 28 and was supposed to be held in two sessions a day over 10 days, but because of glitches several aspirants could not appear for the test and it had to be extended till December 8.
In a fortnight, the IIMs will announce another date for those who have still not taken the test or faced problems while taking the test.
{{/usCountry}}In a fortnight, the IIMs will announce another date for those who have still not taken the test or faced problems while taking the test.
{{/usCountry}}Aspirants, who suffered due to the mismanagement, are, however, willing to give the IIMs another chance to redeem themselves.
“It was a tense period and it is not yet over. As long as the mistakes are resolved and we all get an equal chance to get in, it will be worth the effort,” said Ankit Ved, an aspirant, who is waiting for a rescheduled date to take the test.
“The apology is touching considering that universities goof up so much with results and question papers and don’t ever bother to say sorry,” he said.