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IIMs to overhaul online CAT
The computer-based Common Admission Test, the passport to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management, will be spread over a longer period than the 10 days it was held for last year, Mou Chakraborty reports
The computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT), the passport to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management, will be spread over a longer period than the 10 days it was held for last year.
And Prometric, the US-based testing company conducting CAT, has dropped the National Institute for Information Technology (NIIT) as its technical support partner for the test, Soumitra Roy, managing director of Prometric, India, said.
“We are looking for a new technical partner,” Roy told Hindustan Times on Thursday. Prometric and the IIMs are taking a host of steps to improve the CAT-2010 experience for students, Roy said. The 2009 test, the first computer-based version, was criticised by students and the IIMs because of technical glitches that forced a delay in announcement of results and rescheduling of exam dates.
“Improvements are being made in the preparation, registration and delivery areas of the exam,” said Roy.
“We would be reducing the number of testing centres this time to ensure higher quality of test experience,” Roy added.
In order to accommodate all students at fewer centres, the CAT-2010 will spread beyond 10 days. “The reduction in the number of sites won’t compromise on the nationwide reach... A longer test site preparation period and dummy runs would be incorporated,” he said.
The CAT-2010 application form will have changes to benefit both Prometric and students. “To avert potential overlaps in schedules with other exams, Prometric has recommended an earlier period for the tests,” Roy said. “The final dates and details on registration and scheduling will be announced by the IIMs.”
