CAT 2016: Disabled candidates get ease; IIM B Announces a PWD Coordinator & priority access

CAT 2016 exam convener Prof Rajendra K Bandi, faculty at IIM Bangalore has announced to appoint a PWD Coordinator to assist these test takers at every test venue allotted to PWD candidates. Apart from this, many aspirant friendly facilities for PWD candidates in the registration process and at the exam centre are also announced by IIM Bangalore to facilitate smooth and glitch free test for PWD candidates in terms of their access to test centre, seating arrangement among others.
While the option to avail facilities at exam centre will have to be filled up on CAT 2016 website from October 1 to October 5, 2016 the other facilities will be available at the CAT 2016 test venue on December 4, when the PWD candidates arrive at the exam centre.

PWD Coordinator
For the first time in the history of CAT, there will be a PWD coordinator at CAT 2016 exam centre. Announcing the decision IIM Bangalore has informed Every test center, assigned to PWD candidates, will have a PWD coordinator to assist the PWD candidates. The contact details of the PWD coordinator will be provided to the candidates prior to the test.

Now the PWD candidates will have the contact details of their coordinator before the testing day. They can contact the coordinator when they arrive at the test centre. The PWD coordinator will provide all the necessary assistance and help to the PWD candidates to have access to their test lab and the assigned testing seat.

Dedicated Help Desk
A dedicated help desk (catpwdsupport@iimb.ernet.in) to assist and answer queries of PWD candidates has been opened by IIM Bangalore. Candidates can get quick responses and support in case of any query or required assistance.
Separate Tab to capture assistance
IIM Bangalore will enable at the CAT application Webpage a separate Tab to capture the assistance required by PWD candidates.

The range of facilities and assistance will include option of using a scribe, request for a wheelchair, request to enable the zoom feature. This option will be available from October 1 to 5, 2016.

A candidate may ask for the Scribe Assistance, may request a wheel chair or may ask the CAT 2016 exam centre to enable the zoom feature, if he/she thinks it would be difficult to view the exam or question details in the current format on the computer screen. However all these assistance requirements are to be filled in during October 1 to 5 when the Assistance Tab is enabled.

Assistance on Test Day
On December 4, 2016 following assistance and facilities will be provided to PWD CAT 2016 test takers before and during the exam

Priority Access to test venue
On the test day, PWD candidates will be given priority access - 15 minutes before permitting other candidates to the test venue for test registration.

Test centre equipped with wheel chair
Every test center, assigned to PWD candidates going to appear in CAT 2016, will have a fully functional wheelchair available for any candidate who may need mobility assistance, announces IIM Bangalore

Alternate Questions with same LoD
IIM Bangalore has announced that for purely visual questions like graphs, pictures, or maps, alternate questions of equal difficulty will be provided for candidates with visual disability.
Accordingly if a candidate is unable to attempt the former type of questions, he/she will be allowed to attempt the alternate questions.

Apart from these, CAT 2016 convener Prof Bandi has unveiled several initiatives with more facilities for Person With Disability (PWD) candidates so that they have smooth testing process on the CAT day.
CAT 2016 exam will be held on Sunday December 4, 2016 in 2 sessions of 3 hours duration each in 138 test cities and more than 650 testing venues. IIM Bangalore is convening CAT 2016 with TCS as partnering testing agency.