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Prometric – the body organising CBT CAT for IIMs – talks exclusively with MBAUniverse.com about CBT pattern. Jodi Katz from Prometric also talks about the heightened security measures for the upcoming CAT computer-based test.
Ever since MBAUniverse.com broke the news of CAT 2009 becoming a computer-based test on April 27, 2009, a lot of questions and confusions have arisen in the minds of the CAT takers. At MBAUniverse.com, we constantly try to bring to the aspirants breaking news and updates on what to expect from CAT 2009. For this, we spoke to credible sources from Prometric and IIMs about this year’s CAT pattern. Prometric, a leading US-based company that provides comprehensive testing and assessment services, received the contract for conducting the CBT CAT 2009 from the IIMs in April 2009.
Sharing vital information with MBAUniverse.com, Prometric has for the first time revealed that computer-based CAT 2009 will actually allow test takers to "scroll back and forth" during the exam. This confirmation has a lot of significance for the thousands of MBA aspirants taking the test this year. Jodi Katz from Prometric explained that this format will only allow test takers the ease of question selection. This implies that CAT 2009 will not be a ‘computer-adaptive’ test, but will only be a ‘computer-based’ test. A computer-adaptive test offers a new question based on answer to the previous question.
In an exclusive chat with Sreetama Datta of MBAUniverse.com, Jodi Katz, Corporate Communications Manager of Prometric, said the CBT CAT will be student friendly.
Excerpts from this exclusive interview:
Q: When was the offer for CBT CAT 2009 made to Prometric by the IIMs?
A: Talks were on from a long time, but the contract between Prometric and the IIMs was publicly announced on April 29, 2009.
Q: What is the contract value of this project?
A: The total contract value of this project has been USD 40 million.
Q: What will be the pattern of CAT 2009?
A: The nature of the exam will remain the same and candidates will be able to scroll the questions back and forth through the exam. The pattern will be student-friendly as it will allow them the ease of question selection.
Q: Apart from organising the CAT computer-based test, what role is Prometric playing?
A: Prometric is assuming responsibility for all aspects of the CAT computer-based test, including item authoring, test development, test administration, scoring and reporting services. Prometric will add resources, including dedicated test development and support staff in India for handling the project in a better manner.
Q: What security measures are being taken by Prometric to ensure smooth running of CAT 2009?
A: Enough measures are being taken for ensuring strict security. All test centres hosting CAT 2009 will employ Prometric’s identity management (biometric) solution, digital image capture of all candidates and digital video recording of all testing activities.
Q: Regarding their formats, how far are the CAT and GMAT comparable? How much will the computer-based test of CAT cost?
A: I am afraid we are not at the liberty to discuss the formats of any other exam programme. IIMs are working on finalising the cost of the CAT computer-based test, I have no information about it.
Q: How are the questions and pattern of the CAT computer-based test being worked out?
A: The Prometric staff in India is closely working with the IIMs and all decisions are being taken collaboratively. Any information regarding questions can not be discussed in keeping with the security and confidentiality.
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