CAT 2016: Error in Scoring Pattern creates panic; Total marks 300 or 100? IIM Bangalore yet to respond

Add Review

MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
December 4, 2016
Marking pattern in actual CAT 2016 exam reduced the maximum marks from 300 to 100 and created panic and confusion among the test takers
Till the test day there was no confusion about the scoring pattern in CAT 2016 but suddenly in the test paper the slash of 200 marks took the test takers off guard

Deliberate or technical error! CAT 2016 exam greeted the test takers with error and anomaly in scoring pattern creating confusion and panic whether the candidates would be awarded marks out of 100 as displayed in the test paper or 300 marks as made available with official CAT 2016 mock test published by IIM Bangalore and in the instruction sheet preceding the actual test paper in the testing room on December 4.

Till the test day there was no confusion about the scoring pattern in CAT 2016 but suddenly in the test paper the slash of 200 marks took the test takers off guard. Candidates coming out of the test centre were found discussing the mistakes, changes and anomaly in the CAT 2016 test paper especially on the sudden shift in marking scheme. MBAUniverse.com query to CAT 2016 exam convener Prof Rajendra K Bandi on this issue has yielded no response and the 2.32 lakh registered candidates taking CAT 2016 still remain confused on the issue.

+3 marks: Offical CAT 2016 Mock with 300 marks
The marking scheme as made available by IIM Bangalore on October 24, 2016 in the official mock test for CAT 2016 exam had following information to guide the CAT aspirants

Marks for each correct answer MCQs & Non MCQs

+3

Negative marks for each wrong answer (applicable only for MCQs)

-1

Total number of questions in CAT 2016

100

Total maximum marks in CAT 2016

300

India’s most accurate CAT 2016 Percentile Predictor is live now. Check your CAT 2016 percentile now.

+3marks: Marking pattern on Exam day Instructions on Dec 4
A few minutes before the beginning of actual test paper at 9AM on December 4, 2016, the instructions displayed with CAT 2016 exam had the same marking scheme of +3 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each wrong answer on MCQs, sectional decision of questions and other key instructions on navigation tools.

While all the other information items were found in order, the marking scheme suddenly changed with the beginning of actual CAT 2016 exam and the test takers were bewildered to know that no care has been taken by IIM Bangalore in synchronising the marking scheme which has created panic among the test takers.

+1 mark: Actual CAT 2016 test paper
When the CAT 2016 actual test started at 9AM it surprised the test takers with its changed marking pattern as against each question candidates found maximum 1 mark allocation for each correct answer. The marking scheme displayed against each question was-

Marks for each correct answer

+1

Negative marks for each wrong answer for MCQ

-0.33

Negative mark for wrong answer for Non-MCQ

0

India’s most accurate CAT 2016 Percentile Predictor is live now. Check your CAT 2016 percentile now.

Error - deliberate or technical?  IIM Bangalore yet to clarify
So far since 2009 when CAT started its computerised format, the marking scheme in the exam has remained as +3 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for each wrong answer. For CAT 2016 also, the marking scheme advised by IIM Bangalore remained on the same lines. This is however, the first time that the anomaly has been created in the marking scheme in CAT exam.

Ratio same but MM reduced
Now the CAT 2016 test takers might be awarded marks out of 100 instead of 300. Although the negative marking scheme of 1/3 marks remains the same but it is not clear whether the marks would be awarded out of 300 or 100.

Will it impact your CAT percentile?
In view of the experts, it is no doubt a confusion creating point among the CAT 2016 test takers, but in calculation of scaled score and percentile score, it should not pose any problem as it will work on the raw scores which may further be scaled as per the requirement of IIMs.

Is TCS the culprit?
It appears due care and diligence was not exercised because of which the error in earlier informed and actual test paper marking scheme persisted. In fact the test delivery is the job of the test taking agency which is TCS for CAT 2016. Instead of reviewing each and every nook & corner in test delivery, the agency appears to have become over confident and thus led to this confusion in marking scheme.

CAT: History of glitches
Since it was computerised in 2009, CAT has seen technical and operational issues year after year. The first computerised CAT in 2009 when Prometric was the testing partner agency, reported lot of issues and had to be conducted again at many centres. Over the years CAT gradually got more stabilized but in 2013, it again faced the problem and a legal case was filed on account of percentile calculation issue.

In 2014 IIMs hired new CAT testing agency TCS. In 2014 & 2015 CAT was conducted without any problem. Now in CAT 2016 the information gap has thrown open the error of difference in scoring scheme in the official Mock test, exam instructions and actual test paper. IIM Bangalore is expected to clarify the position soon.

CAT 2016 exam for admission to PGP 2017-19 in 20 IIMs, MBA in FMS and PGDM in other top B-schools was held today on December 4 in 2 sessions in 138 test cities across the country. A good percentile score in the exam can lead to the admission in IIMs, FMS Delhi or the other desired B-school.

Related Article

CAT 2016: FMS Delhi, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT last date to apply closing shortly;check and submit application in time

CAT 2016: What profile IIM Ahmedabad , Bangalore , Calcutta, FMS Delhi need beyond CAT scores? Check admission criteria

MBA Admission 2017: TAPMI Manipal - CAT 2016 cut off, Latest Placements, Fee, Last date to apply

MBA Admission 2017: MDI Gurgaon - CAT 2016 cut off, Latest Placements, Fee structure, Last date

CAT 2016: Test Day Guide scrapped by IIM Bangalore; keeps exam day instructions in dark - creates panic

CAT 2016: 5 must avoid mistakes on exam day; fight your way out - toppers & expert advise testing room strategy

CAT 2016: Sectional submission may result in loss of score; understand how to avoid

IIM Tiruchirappalli: CAT 2016 gets 50% weight in Admission Criteria; 1st stage shortlist based on CAT scores only

MBA Admission 2017: GIM Goa - CAT 2016 cut off, Latest Placements, Fee, Last date

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2016