CAT 2016: Retest an opportunity or ordeal; know the implications

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
September 22, 2016
CAT 2016 retest, if at all it happens may cast implications of very different nature and may prove an opportunity for some and an ordeal for others
CAT 2016 retest may imply more preparation time but a delayed result declaration as well as fluctuations in scaled and percentile scores

CAT 2016 retest, if at all it happens may cast implications of very different nature and may prove an opportunity for some and an ordeal for others. The CAT 2016 retest may imply more preparation time but a delayed result declaration as well as fluctuations in scaled and percentile scores according to the test pattern and content that is placed before the test takers in first and second phase.

For instance, if in the first phase of CAT 2016 the questions are easier especially in the weak prepared domains, the retest may turn out bad for such candidates who could attempt the 1st phase better than the CAT 2016 retest. However, the only thing will be that the aspirants will have to face the CAT 2016 twice, in case the retest process happens as the last resort when technical problem is not sorted out.

CAT 2016 will offer retest to a selective group of candidates in a very rare case when the technical issues are not sorted out on the test day of December 4, 2016. Besides the yardstick that measures the eligibility of the candidates who may take CAT 2016 retest, confines only to the affected test takers.

In case it at all happens, it may have far reaching implications and the impact will be more on the test takers than on any one else.

An Opportunity or Ordeal
According to Prof S K Agarwal, expert on Verbal ability and mentor on CAT 2016 preparation, a CAT 2016 retest can prove to be both – an opportunity as well as an ordeal.

How the Retest is an Opportunity?
The CAT 2016 retest can prove to be an opportunity as the test takers after getting feel of the 1st phase exam and after taking the sample test on CAT 2016 website will have another 1 month to prepare going by the trend.

During this period the aspirants eligible to take CAT 2016 retest can get rid of their weak areas and can practice more exactly on the pattern of the exam. Number of replica mocks within a few days of the 1st test will come up in the market. It will be easy now to practice the questions exactly on the same pattern as they would appear in CAT 2016 retest.

The process will help the prospective test takers to score high in case CAT 2016 retest happens.

Ordeal for all
CAT 2016 retest may prove ordeal for more candidates than it could serve as an opportunity

Spend twice on travel & stay plan
Candidates coming from distant places to appear in CAT 2016 will have to spend again on their travel, lodging & boarding. And in case their test venue is changed to some other city, it will be an added burden on them and the retest as such may not be a good option for the CAT 2016 test takers.

Difficult for working professionals
Working executives aspiring to crack CAT 2016 and get into IIM of their choice, may find it difficult to get their leave sanctioned to continue preparing for the exam for another month or so.

Delay in admission process at IIMs
CAT 2016 exam is scheduled to be held on December 4, 2016 and in case a few of the testing labs or test venues need to be put to retest, it may not be held before the last week of December or the first week of January 2017. In case the number of candidates are more and CAT 2016 Centre has to manage a high number of candidates for retest, it may not be held before the 2nd or 3rd week of January, 2017.

Accordingly, instead of declaring the result in second week of January, now the IIMs will be busy in convening the CAT 2016 Retest. This will further delay the date of declaration of CAT 2016 result which will delay the PI-WAT process and final admission result declaration by individual IIM.

Since everything will get delayed by more than a month, IIMs who begin their academic session from June-July every year will not be able to commence their PGP 2017-19 batch on time which will further result on the increased burden on the students and faculty.

It is a common belief that the survival during the 1st year at IIMs is very difficult and with a delayed academic session it may become even more difficult.

Why CAT 2016 Retest?
According to IIM Bangalore, the CAT 2016 convening IIM, “As with paper and pencil testing, or virtually every other human endeavour, a very small number of problems could occur that might prevent a test from being delivered and/or a result from being generated. In the unlikely event this does occur, every effort will be made to correct the problem, up to and including the administration of another test”

In case, circumstances or technical glitches call for the CAT 2016 retest to take place, you may get the opportunity to take the test again. Since it will depend on the computer based CAT 2016 which in case does not go the smooth way as claimed by CAT 2016 Test Centre, only the affected ones will be eligible to take the retest.

Circumstances calling for retest
Even after emphasizing that the computer based CAT 2016 exam is the best testing process, CAT 2016 centre has kept the provision for re-test open in case there are certain unanticipated technical issues coming up during the exam. Accordingly in the following circumstances IIM Bangalore may go for CAT 2016 retest.

In case there are minor technical glitches like system does not work for some time, your particular node gets stuck, you will get proportionate time as the timer on your screen will start from where it got stopped. So there is no issue except that you may have to spend more than 3 hours inside the testing lab instead of fixed 3 hours. However following circumstances may call for CAT 2016 retest-

System remains inactivated
In case the system at the test venue does not get activated as there is some major fault in net connectivity which cannot be corrected at the material time

Inaccessible test venue
The test venue is not accessible due to some major riots, curfew, flood or some other prohibitory orders

Test not visible on screen
In case the test is not visible on the computer screen in spite of long waiting, and the problem is not corrected within reasonable time you may have to go for retest.

Sudden failure
Sudden System failure at the test venue which despite best efforts remains unsolved In all above and other situations, CAT 2016 exam centre may have to resort to Re-test on some other day after making due announcement.

Option to take Retest
Students who face disruptions such as pressing the end/quit button within the first 2 hours or more and are not rescheduled may be allowed to sit for the Retest. Candidates in this category can also be given the option of taking or not taking the CAT retest. If the candidate in this category does not choose to take the rescheduled test, his/her score from the 1st phase of testing will be retained.

This process was followed during the CAT 2009 retest which was held on January 30 & 31, 2010. In case the retest happens again the procedure can be followed this time also.

Report the following to invigilation team
If you encounter any of the following problems, immediately report it to the invigilation team in your testing lab. It will help you save your time and will make you eligible to be granted for proportionate time which you have lost. In case the problem is not resolved either your nod number will be changed or you will get the opportunity to appear in CAT 2016 retest

-If you encounter technical glitches like frozen computer screen, blank screen, and improper display of data or graphic elements

-If you cannot take the test due to closure of your test lab

Although CAT 2016 Administration centre has taken more than required steps to ensure that no chance of retest occurs and has ensured with testing partner TCS to conduct error free CAT 2016, the unanticipated factors are always at work, so be ready for anything including the retest.

CAT 2016 gateway to PGP 2017-19 in 20 IIMs and other top B-schools is to be conducted on December 4, 2016 in 2 sessions. Registration process for the exam is proposed to be closed on September 22, at 5 PM.

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