FAQ : A few questions answered related to online CAT exam 2009

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) finally decided to conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) online from November 2009, CAT aspirants are a confused about how the Computer Based Test is going to turn out. Some feel that The online Common Admission test (CAT) pattern is likely to throw up surprises as the new platform will bring many new dimensions in the test, known for its innovative and competitive exam pattern.

IIM Ahmedabad has come out with a press release in the first week of July which had cleared a few confusion that CAT aspirants may have had.The Press release says "The Common Admission Test (CAT) of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow, and Shillong is going to be a Computer Based Test (CBT) from this year onwards. The test will be conducted in a window of about ten days sometime at the end of the calendar year. CBT CAT will be a candidate-friendly test in terms of flexibility in the selection of test date, ease of registration process, better physical environment and test experience, and enhanced security in terms of biometric identification of candidates and video monitoring. CBT format also would improve communication between candidates and IIMs in terms of programme information, test delivery, receipt of admit cards, and receipt of score reports."

The CAT examinations will be more on the lines of GRE and IIMs, being educational institutions, will be able to concentrate on teaching rather than arranging for CAT, says a ETS Prometric official.He adds "We have a strong security system in place like biometrics and video monitoring so that we do not encounter any rigging. The process will also help CAT to get a global recognition”. Prometric is a global provider of comprehensive testing and assessment services for online tests such as GRE and TOEFL and will now provide CAT.

A total of 2,450 seats are available at seven IIMs, including IIM Shillong, this year.

Answers to a Few Question that you may have

• The test will be conducted in a window of about ten days sometime at the end of the calendar year.
• CAT is going to be a computer based test (CBT) and not internet based test (IBT). I.e. Candidate does not take the test on an internet site. Instead of reading the questions in a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer-sheet, a candidate will read the questions on a computer terminal and choose an answer by clicking on the correct option.
• The format of the test will remain more or less the same except that a candidate reads question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer. A candidate will take the test only at designated test venues in about 25 cities across India. Detailed information will be provided in the CAT 2009 advertisement.
• Advertisement for CAT 2009 will appear during the later part of August 2009.
• CAT 2009 Application Fee - Candidate Testing Fee is Rs. 1400 (Rs. 700 for SC/ST candidates). A prospective candidate buys a CAT 2009 Voucher from designated locations/bank branches after advertisement appears in newspapers. Sufficient time will be given for purchasing the voucher. More details will be available on CAT and IIM websites after the advertisement appears in newspapers.

Besides the seven IIMs, which conduct the exams, the CAT results are also used by 124 other management institutions to enroll students.