New Delhi: Online CAT (Common Admission Test) 2009 exam was IIMs first attempt to shift paper pencil exam format to computer based testing. However, the new technique got marred, due to technical problems and poor management, thereby affecting students in as many as 24 test centres in 13 cities across the country. A total of 9400 students would appear for the CAT re-test scheduled to be conducted this weekend. But, Prometric, the organizer of the entrance exam to the IIMs, is not promising a glitch-free re-test.
Further, Prometric has said that they do have contingency plans for the second phase of testing. However, there is no way to adequately cover every potential occurrence. As a result it is possible that a small percentage of candidates could be affected by difficulties. As per sources, total of 11,050 candidates, including 254 from Kolkata, were unable to appear for CAT due to software glitches in the first round last November, would sit for the online exam again this weekend. According to Prometric, not all the 11,050 candidates called for the re-test are expected to appear for it. Only a total of 9400 candidates would write the re-test, while 1625 candidates have opted to retain their earlier scores.
