CAT Test Failure

The Head of IIM Ahmedabad just recently said to the Hindustan Times: “We have failed in delivering an error-free system … We feel responsible and will move forward (in correcting those errors). Read it again...this is IIM saying they have Failed. As we all know by now the CAT exam on its first online attempt had been a total failure. Prometric had been the organization that has been conducting the online CAT this year and have themselves admitted to the failure of their system. Now instead of being on just one day the test is being held for 10 days, but instead of being an easy affair it has become a very disturbing experience for the test taker.

At least 45,000 students had enrolled for the test in the last three days out of which 8,000 could not take the examination due to technical problems. From many experiences some points noted below have been gathered regarding the new test.

- Due to a virus many were not able to even log in and were told that their test would be rescheduled
- Many found it quite similar to the SNAP online test
- This year the difficulty level was much lesser that earlier CAT’s
- Total questions were 60.. so even if 30 are attempted and are accurate it would be fine
- The time factor is important as you need to keep track of the time
- Do as much manual work you can. Do not depend only on the review button to identify the question you want to go back to. Make a note of that question on the rough paper.

After such a disaster it would really seem like the IIM’s are overrated. It would be much better to go for the MAT test which is conducted both as a paper based test as well as an online test. Also the wait for the MAT is much less as it is conducted four times in a year. So next time your looking for a B-School, do try got yhr MAT test.

Changes in CAT 09

I just visited the IIM website the other day as I wanted to know more about the online CAT. It’s not that I’m going to take the CAT this year, but I just have a curiosity to know what it’s gonna be like.

After taking a CAT prep course last year, I had very soon realized that cracking the CAT was going to be quite tough. When the D-day came, I realized that it was more difficult than I thought. I managed to get an average percentile which would have been better if it hadn’t been for negative marking.

There are many changes in the CAT09, to be held for 10 days from 28 November to 7 December, some are good, and some bad. Go though them if you’re planning to give the CAT or just if you curious about it.

I will begin with the good ones and end with the not so good ones.

- Choice of Center: The test will be held at the computer centre of candidate’s choice, (like GMAT/GRE tests) so you can chose a centre next to your home. Previously a center was allotted at random. My center was about 20 kms from my home and quite difficult to find.
- Choice of Time: The CAT will take place in two sessions: at 10am and 3.30pm each day so you can chose a suitable time.
- Tutorial for Help: A tutorial on the test will be given before beginning the CAT to make students understand the online process.
- Fixed pattern of Qtns: Earlier the pattern of questions used to keep changing, like the number of questions, marks allotted, etc, now the questions would be having a more fixed structure.
- Essay: Earlier essay writing was not included, this year like GMAT and GRE one may have to submit an online essay at the second stage of evaluation. This is a good point for those with essay writing skills.
- No Pencils! : Lastly, no more carrying of pencils and erasers.

Any the not so good points……..

- Minus 15 Min: Of the entire 2 hours and 30 mins, 15 minute would be spent on tutorials of how to do the test….that would be a waste of …….FIFTEEN FULL MINUTES
- Double Rough Work: Making rough work….…copying form the monitor to the rough paper, would be a waste of another couple of seconds.
- No Turning Back: Earlier you could view all the questions at one glance, and then choose to solve the question in whatever order you chose. It has been a known tip to solve known questions first, Now, you can view just one question at a time and may even need to solve questions in a fixed order, with may be a flag for the questions to be solved later.
- Sectional time limit – Earlier one could attempt any of the sections in any order, for example do 3 quant questions first and then do the English ones later, etc. This year this may be different.
- Practice your Scrolling: Earlier it was easy to go through the Reading Comprehension section. Now the student would have to scroll up and down to read the whole passage.
- No looking back: Earlier one could take the question paper back with the rough work. Now even the rough paper provided would not be allowed to be taken home. So, even having others try to evaluate how you have done would become quite difficult. You would just have to wait for the results to be declared to find out just how well you have really done.