The CAT aspirants have always wondered about the scoring process which takes place in a computer based exam which is held in many days. Are all test papers equally difficult? Is there a negative marking? How will the percentiles calculated across 20 days of exams? To answer all these queries and clarify the sensitive area of the fairness of scoring process, Prometric has shared a guide to three steps which are used by them while scoring of the CAT exam.

David A. Meissner, Vice President, Solution Services, Prometric explained these three steps of scoring CAT exam:

1. Calculating the raw scores: The first step in scoring is to calculate the raw score. The raw score is derived by providing the CAT exam takers with three points for each correct answer and subtracting one point for each incorrect answer. “This helps ensure that candidates are only rewarded for what they know and are not awarded points for random guessing,” Meissner says.
 
2. Equating the forms: Due to the different papers of the CAT exam offered for the different days, some forms may be slightly more difficult than others. “If two CAT 2010 takers take different versions of the paper and get the same number of answers correct, it would not be fair to consider them equally capable unless we could prove that each form was equally challenging,” mentions Meissner.  For this reason, the second step of the process involves equating the forms.
 
According to Meissner, a small number of questions are present in more than one version of the paper. “These questions allow us to measure how candidates taking different forms compare against each other when asked the same question. By using enough of these questions across all forms, we can adjust each candidate’s raw score and provide each candidate with the score they would have earned had each candidate taken the exact same form, at the exact same time,” Meissner explains.
 
3. Measuring equated scores in a common scale: The process of scoring for the CAT exam is completed by placing the equated scores on a common scale. “Scaling creates a range of scores which can be used to create a percentile rank for the test as a whole, and for each section. Candidates scoring in the top percentile performed at the highest level when compared to all other candidates,” says Meissner.
 
Prometric has also emphasized on ensuring the elements of fairness, convenience and security for the CAT 2010 takers. According to Prometric, each submitted test must accurately reflect the performance of the CAT taker. “No external factors, such as the date, time or location of the test, should impact the final score. All candidates must be compared against a common scale,” Meissner ensures. To ensure the convenience and security, he mentions that CAT 2010 must be administered scores the multiple testing locations, dates and times and it should also be protected from exposures and thefts.

To view and download the official Prometric document, shared with MBAUniverse.com, explaining the scoring process CAT 2010, click on the following link:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/Road-to-cat-2010/Scoring.pdf

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more news, information and updates on CAT 2010.