?It?s time the entire examination system is overhauled?

A day after the CAT was out of the bag, most students and faculty members of the IIMs across India expressed shock and disgust.

A day after the CAT was out of the bag, most students and faculty members of the IIMs across India expressed shock and disgust. And many are even worried that the scandal will affect their placement.

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"While the number of students appearing for CAT may go down, the number of companies arriving on the campuses will probably dwindle," said a student in Lucknow.

Said Archan Ghosh of Kolkata: "The papers were easy this time. I expected a good score in two subjects. Though mathematics was a bit tough, I expected a good result overall. Now I have to take the test all over again."

"I spent a whole year to prepare for CAT and what a waste it has been," moaned Mohan Rao in Bangalore. Added Sridhar, "Let's only hope they will do something about this and see that it never happens again."

But for some, like Suresh Mohan of Kolkata, who didn't do well, the re-examination is a godsend. "I didn't do well at all and was actually thinking of appearing for CAT next year. But now I can take another shot this year."

Said student Mohit in Lucknow: "It's time the entire system was overhauled. That will help send a message across that we are concerned."

Kunal Singh of the Students Media Cell at IIM-Ahmedabad hoped that the scandal would have no long-term repercussions for the IIMs. After all, the reputation of IIMs had been built over 40 years.

Some take solace from the fact that CAT is only one part of the entire examination process. "Anyway, CAT is not the final thing. One has to go through group discussions and interviews before getting into the IIMs. And the whole academic record too is taken into account."

Most students are furious that the news of the cancellation of the test came only after they finished writing the papers and reached home, though the authorities were sure about the leakage in the morning.

Preparing for CAT again, according to some, could be a psychologically tortuous process. Said Ashoke Dutta of Kolkata's Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management: "A student puts in a lot of preparation for CAT. Building that tempo once again is tough."

"The look on the faces of most students is one of total disbelief," said K.G. Sahadevan, chairman (admissions), IIM-Lucknow. As soon as he entered his economics classroom on Monday, students literally mobbed him and grilled him about the leakage.

In scam-ridden India, said a former faculty member of IIM Bangalore, the "CAT getting out of the bag" wouldn't shock the ordinary citizen. "But it's a shame," he said.

(With Jaideep Mazumdar/Kolkata, Manish Chandra Pandey/Lucknow, Rathin Das/Ahmedabad)