IIM CAT 2009

The IIM MBA CAT examination starting from November 29 to December 7 will be different in more ways than one, with major logistics revamp to suit the new format.

Candidates will get only 15 minutes to familiarise themselves with the new system on how to answer and review the questions before the actual test lasting two hours and 15 minutes begins. The testing sessions will be audio and video recorded. Contingency plans have been put in place in the event of power outage, technical glitches , medical outbreaks, natural calamities and terrorist attacks, according to the guidebook.

An estimated 2.41 lakh candidates are said to have registered for CAT this year as compared to 2.46 lakh who took the test in 2008. MBA CAT is a qualifying test for a management programme at the seven Indian Institutes of Management iim as well as other institutes that accept the CAT scores. It will be held in close to 104 test centres across 32 cities in India. The results will be declared on the CAT website by the end of January.

Online Cat 2009

IIM CAT will now be a frenzied blur of clicks. The decision will impact thousands of students who appear for the highly competitive entrance exam at centres across the country in the hope of scoring high enough to make it to one of the IIM MBA. The online move will mean changes but internet-age students seem comfortable with the idea. The online model will be similar to US exams like the GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) and the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) except that the results will not appear instantly.

The process of conducting the exam will be outsourced to a private service provider.But the IIM will retain complete control over the test.


It’s a great idea but I have my doubts about exactly how the IIM will manage to conduct the exams online for such large numbers.........

ONLINE CAT 2009

It is very tough to say whether the IIM CAT will go online this year or not. Pankaj Chandra, director, IIM Bangalore said that they are not sure whether the CAT will go online or not.The Probability is that they will go for the usual paper-pencil test, where they are familiar with the entire logistics of printing, advertising and hiring of rental places for writing the test.

Online MBA CAT would mean taking the test on a computer which will serve questions from a local server. The IIMs have said they will need a good number of computer terminals for students to take the examination. A whole lot of other details need to be put in place which needs time. Online CAT require good work from IIMs in terms of infrastructure and facilities which will not happen in a few months' time.

Career Launcher is investing around Rs 30 lakh to facilitate online cat training on computer to its students. ETS Prometric, Pearson VUE, Eduquity Career Technologies and Mumbai-based Attest, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aptech are the four companies that are shortlisted for conducting of test online.But when will this happen only God or IIM knows!!

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