CAT 2014 Test Day Guide out; reveals important dos and donts for the exam day

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
October 21, 2014
CAT Centre 2014 has made live much awaited The Test Day guide which details all the information a CAT 2014 registered candidate will require on the day of the test
The Test day guide has more items of information than contained in Test Day Video, please read carefully.

CAT Centre 2014 has made live much awaited ‘The Test Day guide’ which  details all the information a CAT 2014 registered candidate will require on the day of  the test. The Test day guide has more items of information than contained in Test Day Video, please read carefully.

Test Day details on Admit Card

Candidates who have registered will be randomly assigned either the forenoon session or the afternoon session on either of the two test dates, Nov 16 or Nov 22,  2014. Your respective details are available on the Admit Card.

Admit card is available to view, download and print for all registered candidates. Log in as Existing User on the CAT Website www.iimcat.ac.in. It is advised that you immediately view and verify the details on the Admit Card and especially note Name; Test date and session timing; Test City and centre address.

The Admit Card is one of the documents required to be carried on test day. It is advised that you print the Admit card well in advance of your assigned test date. Carefully read and adhere to the instructions on the Admit Card.

Do not carry extra items

According to CAT 2014 test day guide “Mobile phones or any other electronic gadgets such as watches, calculators and stationary items like pen, pencil, and paper are not allowed inside the examination hall. There is no facility for safekeeping of your personal belongings outside the test hall and we are not responsible for its loss. Only Admit Card & Photo ID Card only will be allowed inside the test hall.”

Get the discrepancy rectified by Nov 28, 2014

CAT test day guide suggests “Discrepancy, if any, in Date of Birth and/or Gender can be edited on the CAT website from 25th Nov 2014, 10:00 AM to 28th Nov 2014, 05:00 PM.”

No break during the test

Once you enter the lab, you will not be allowed to take a bio break. And thus it is advised that you locate and use the restrooms well before start of test.

Security and Invigilation

Identity checks will be made upon arrival at the gates of the test centre to ensure that there are no unauthorised candidates and that you are at the right test location on the right day and time. Only registered CAT 2014 candidates will be allowed into the test centre. Friends or relatives who accompany you to the test centre are not allowed to wait in the test centre or be in contact with you while you take the test.

Candidates will also be subjected to frisking to ensure that you are not carrying any gadgets, notes or recording instruments strapped on your body or in your pockets. The check-in procedure inside the test hall includes your image and left thumbprint capture. This is a security feature which will allow CAT Centre 2014 to verify your identity should you be called for an interview.

This information will also be used to detect those candidates who attempt to take the test more than once. Such candidates will be disqualified from CAT 2014.

Workstation in Test Hall

Each workstation in the test hall will be blocked on three sides – front, left and right. You are not supposed to look around at other candidates as there will be surveillance cameras that record video. CCTV cameras will be installed in all test centres to prevent fraudulent activities. Any suspicious or disruptive behaviour could lead to your test being invalidated by CAT Centre 2014.

Invigilation team

Based on the number of candidates in an examination hall, there will be one or more invigilators. CAT 2014 personnel can be identified by the badges worn by them. The images shared in the test day guide have the colour of the badges worn by CAT Centre 2014 personnel that will interact with you.

Test Day Sign in Procedure

On the day of the test, ensure that you reach the test centre at the correct time as follows: 7.30 AM for forenoon session and 1 PM for afternoon session. Please note that no candidate will be allowed to enter the test centre after 8:45 AM for the forenoon session and post 2:15 PM for the afternoon session. The gates of the test centre will be shut post this time.

Documents to be carried on Test day

Ensure that you carry the following documents on test day:

1) Admit Card    2) Photo ID Card

Candidates will not be permitted to take the test if valid photo identification and/or Admit Card is not presented. If your name has been changed due to events such as marriage, you must show the documents such as Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Legal Name Change etc. and submit a notarized photocopy when you appear for the test, interview and at the time of joining a programme.

At the gates of the test centre, CAT 2014 volunteer will check your photo identification and Admit Card to ensure that you have arrived at the allocated test centre, on the right date and session. Beyond this point, friends and relatives who accompanied you will not be allowed inside. On the notice board inside the test centre, you should be able to locate the lab assigned to you based on your name and registration number (referred to as Application No) given on the Admit Card. There will be direction sign boards that will help you locate the designated lab.

At the Test Lab

Once you arrive at your assigned lab, notice board outside the lab will display registration numbers of all candidates allocated for the lab. Confirm that your registration number is present on the sheet. Seating allocation will be denoted as System Number alongside your name. Except for Admit Card and Photo ID card, no other items or belongings will be allowed into the lab.

In the Test Lab

Inside the lab, an invigilator will check your Admit Card and Photo ID card. You will be asked to sign on the Admit Card and submit the same to the invigilator. Post which, you will be seated to give your biometric information such as left thumb print and facial photograph. Sign the attendance register and proceed to your terminal as per the system number.

At your designated terminal you will see your photograph, name and registration number on the screen. Do not touch the keyboard. Stay seated for further instructions. In case, you do not see your particulars, highlight it to the invigilator.

Once you have signed in at the lab and seated at your terminal, you will not be allowed to go out. If the  candidate needs to leave the lab for any reason, he/she will not be allowed to re-enter. The lab door will close 30 minutes before the start of the test. Rough sheets and pens will be distributed to each candidate.

Test taking Instructions for CAT 2014

The invigilator will read out instructions twenty minutes before the test. Kindly listen attentively. Ten minutes before the test, invigilator will request all candidates to sign in at their terminals. The candidate needs to enter only his/her password. The password to enter will be instructed by the invigilator. The candidate will have to use the virtual keyboard to enter the password.

The candidate can view his/her profile information and click on I Confirm to proceed. Next, the candidate will be presented with instructions on screen elements and how to navigate on the screen from one question to another. Clicking Next, the candidate can read CAT 2014 test specific instructions as mentioned in the image shared on Test Day Guide.

Don’t touch the key board

The candidate will have to wait for the invigilator to signal start of test at the designated time. The “I am ready to begin” link will be enabled. Click the link to proceed to take the test. At no point during the test, the candidate should touch the keyboard. Doing so will lock the terminal. All answer choices should be made using the mouse.

During the test, you may use the rough sheets to do your calculations. Kindly return the same to the invigilator before you leave the lab. Ensure that you have written you name and registration number on all the rough sheets. Any attempt to take away the rough sheets out of the lab will be considered as disruptive behaviour and liable for disqualification.

Test Duration and Pattern
The test duration is for a total time of 2 hours and 50 minutes (170 minutes). PWD/DA candidates with scribe requirements will be allowed an extra hour. All candidates will start the test at the same time when the invigilator signals to start. Candidates are to remain at their seats for the entire duration of the test even if they complete their test early. The Submit button will be enabled only upon completion of test time.

Test Language
The medium of the test is in English language for all candidates. The test will have 100 multiple choice questions across two sections. Candidates may attempt any section first. And the candidate can toggle between the two sections and attempt questions. An on-screen timer will mark remaining minutes for the test. If you do not understand a question on the test, you should answer the question to the best of your ability. Details on negative marking and penalty for unanswered questions will be shared closer to the test day.

Status of questions in the Test

The Question Palette panel on the right-hand side will display the status of your questions in four colours that indicate the following:
Green - Answered question
Red - Unanswered question
White - Question not viewed
Violet – Question marked for review

Section name and number of questions

Section-1:Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation will have 50 questions
Section-2:Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning will have 50 questions

Marking the selected option

Post marking your selected option while answering a question; click one of the following to proceed:

Save & Next: Saves your answer and moves to the next question.

Clear Response: Clears the already selected answer option for the given question only.

Mark for Review & Next: Marks your question in Violet for review so that you can return later to confirm your answer selection. You will also be prompted at the time of submitting the test, those questions that are marked for review.

Other details
You can also view other details related to the test on the bottom right panel of the screen such as

Question Paper: You can view all the questions in the test.

Profile: You can view your profile information.

Instructions: You can view the test related instructions (also shared in test day guide).

Submit: Allows you to do the final submission of your test. When you click on the Submit button, the system will prompt you to confirm if you indeed want to submit your paper. The system will also display a summary of the status of the questions attempted by you.

Feedback form

Once you have submitted your paper, the system will present you with a candidate feedback form. It is mandatory for all candidates to respond to this survey to ensure improvement in candidate experience in the future.

Assistance in the test lab

For any issues during the test, you are supposed to raise your hand to notify the invigilator. Stay seated and explain the issue to the invigilator that approaches you. Under no circumstance, should you move from your seat until the end of exam time.

Resetting the timer

If there is an issue with your terminal, lab technicians stationed in the centre will be called for assistance. Your timer will automatically be reset to accommodate lost time. Also, every test centre allocates extra terminals in case of emergencies. Candidate will be advised and instructed under such scenarios. Additionally, every centre is audited and protected against power outages by ensuring uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and generators on the premise.

CAT 2014 Candidate Help Desk
The FAQs, online guides, videos and website updates are designed to enable self-service. You should  use these tools which can help answer most of your queries. In case you still require clarity, the CAT Candidate Helpdesk is available by phone, Monday to Saturday from 9:00AM to 6:00PM @ Toll free: 1800-2100-151

Please note, the help desk will be closed on Sundays and on Diwali, October 23rd, 2014.

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