CAT 2010: No rush, smooth ride on Day One
Wednesday was the first day of the Combined Admission Test (CAT) for entry into prestigious business schools in the country. Examinees emerged from the 10 test centres in Bangalore much relieved that the test was conducted smoothly, and that there were no technical glitches. Last year, when the CAT was conducted online the first time, many test centres reported snags in the computers that prevented candidates from completing the test.
The organisers of the online CAT test, the Indian Institutes of Management and Prometric India, can now heave a sigh of relief too. The likelihood that the testing process will be smooth is high now. Well begun, they hope, is half done.
CAT 2010 will end on November 24. After the bad press that the organisation of the test got last year, the IIMs and their US-based partner, Prometric, went the extra mile to ensure that the test was conducted smoothly this year. Computers at the test centres were checked, to ensure that all the software used was licenced, and that the anti-virus programmes had not expired. Even the hardware was checked to ensure that candidates did not face any trouble.
Many candidates that DNA spoke to said that the test had not posed any technical problems. Navigating the online test was a smooth affair for many candidates. Surya Kumar, a candidate who took the test at the Garden City College said that he faced no problems at all. “It was well-organised. Supervisors posted at the labs were well informed, and help was at hand for all candidates,” said Kumar.
Srinivas Belvi, who has been coaching candidates for the CAT, said that this year’s experience at the test centres was a sea-change from what was experienced last year. “It was a good first day, first show. The organisers of CAT 2010 left no stone unturned to make the experience a smooth one for candidates this time. Last year, it was all so messy. Several students could not write the test for three consecutive days in Bangalore,” Belvi said.
Hasini M, a software professional who wrote the test in the morning session, initially expressed apprehension about the test going online. Emerging from the Garden City College centre, however, Hasini sang a different tune, saying that the test went off well, and that she was hopeful of a good result. “I was praying that I don’t have to face any technical glitches. It went off smoothly today, and I’m really happy,” she said. A few candidates said that there were only minor problems with the tests, but those had been sorted out. There were even extra computers at the test centres, which could be pressed into service in case candidates faced technical problems.
Many of the centres, however, did not see very many candidates on the first day of the CAT. There were less than 100 students in most of the centres, for each of the sessions. The afternoon sessions were especially poorly attended on Wednesday. At some centres, there were less than 20 candidates in the afternoon session.
It is surmised that after the experience of technical trouble in the test last year, the candidates are more wary this year. “Last year, there were technical problems in the first three days. Candidates don’t want to take any risks this year,” said Shiv Kumar, director, academics, Career Launcher, a coaching institute.
It is expected that a much larger number of candidates will turn up to take the test in the next few days.“It was easy on the whole, except for a few sections. I hope to be ranked well enough to find admission in one of the top colleges,” said Vinay Kumar, a BCom graduate from Thiruvananthapuram who had arrived in Bangalore just for the test. “The paper was tough for first-timers,” said Sushmita Acharjee, a student.
DNA
The organisers of the online CAT test, the Indian Institutes of Management and Prometric India, can now heave a sigh of relief too. The likelihood that the testing process will be smooth is high now. Well begun, they hope, is half done.
CAT 2010 will end on November 24. After the bad press that the organisation of the test got last year, the IIMs and their US-based partner, Prometric, went the extra mile to ensure that the test was conducted smoothly this year. Computers at the test centres were checked, to ensure that all the software used was licenced, and that the anti-virus programmes had not expired. Even the hardware was checked to ensure that candidates did not face any trouble.
Many candidates that DNA spoke to said that the test had not posed any technical problems. Navigating the online test was a smooth affair for many candidates. Surya Kumar, a candidate who took the test at the Garden City College said that he faced no problems at all. “It was well-organised. Supervisors posted at the labs were well informed, and help was at hand for all candidates,” said Kumar.
Srinivas Belvi, who has been coaching candidates for the CAT, said that this year’s experience at the test centres was a sea-change from what was experienced last year. “It was a good first day, first show. The organisers of CAT 2010 left no stone unturned to make the experience a smooth one for candidates this time. Last year, it was all so messy. Several students could not write the test for three consecutive days in Bangalore,” Belvi said.
Hasini M, a software professional who wrote the test in the morning session, initially expressed apprehension about the test going online. Emerging from the Garden City College centre, however, Hasini sang a different tune, saying that the test went off well, and that she was hopeful of a good result. “I was praying that I don’t have to face any technical glitches. It went off smoothly today, and I’m really happy,” she said. A few candidates said that there were only minor problems with the tests, but those had been sorted out. There were even extra computers at the test centres, which could be pressed into service in case candidates faced technical problems.
Many of the centres, however, did not see very many candidates on the first day of the CAT. There were less than 100 students in most of the centres, for each of the sessions. The afternoon sessions were especially poorly attended on Wednesday. At some centres, there were less than 20 candidates in the afternoon session.
It is surmised that after the experience of technical trouble in the test last year, the candidates are more wary this year. “Last year, there were technical problems in the first three days. Candidates don’t want to take any risks this year,” said Shiv Kumar, director, academics, Career Launcher, a coaching institute.
It is expected that a much larger number of candidates will turn up to take the test in the next few days.“It was easy on the whole, except for a few sections. I hope to be ranked well enough to find admission in one of the top colleges,” said Vinay Kumar, a BCom graduate from Thiruvananthapuram who had arrived in Bangalore just for the test. “The paper was tough for first-timers,” said Sushmita Acharjee, a student.
DNA
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