CAT 2016: The 1 day 2 session exam reduces score normalization problem

CAT 2016 like last year will be a single day exam to be conducted in 2 sessions slot on December 4, 2016. The positive impact which CAT 2016 would make on test takers is that the candidates will not have to go through the ordeal of longer testing window of 15-20 days and facing the same test with varying difficulty level and getting confused with the scoring pattern and normalization process.

Now there will be only 2 sessions of CAT 2016 on the same day with almost same LoD which will narrow the gap and will bring uniformity in the score normalization process. Freshers, working professionals and the candidates from different academic back grounds as well as mentors for CAT 2016 preparation have welcomed the 1 day 2 session exam as they consider it more aspirant friendly.

1 day CAT: Glitch free exam
Whether the proactive step is going to be good for CAT 2016 aspirants or would create more problems to them became a hot debated issue after release of exam notification by IIM Bangalore on July 31, 2016. The experts after analyzing the pros and cons have found the announcement for 1 day 2 session CAT 2016 on the pattern of 2015 exam as more aspirant friendly.
Experts also agree that CAT 2016 will be going to be more aspirant friendly and anticipate that the exam would reduce the operational and technical glitches to bare minimum level, will further strengthen score normalization process and the candidates will not have to remain tense while speculating and anticipating what would appear in future sessions of CAT 2016 exam.

Score normalization: No technical issue

1 day, 2 sessions, same type of questions, same pattern and same exam composition are what CAT 2016 has in store for the aspirants. No more calculation is required to assess what appeared and when during the 40 separate sessions, what is the difficulty level through each session and how the score for each session could and each day would be normalized by CAT testing agency and IIM for such long testing window.
CAT 2016 scoring and normalization is proposed to be thoroughly transparent. The difficulty level through all the 2 sessions is expected to remain the same and the scoring and normalization of scores is not expected to create an issue in CAT 2016 as happened in CAT 2013 which attracted court cases on normalization issue.

The scores of the candidates shall be subjected to a process of Normalization. The Normalization process to be implemented shall adjust for location and scale differences of score distributions across different forms. After normalization across different forms the scores shall be further normalized across different sections and the scaled scores obtained by this process shall be converted into percentiles for purposes of shortlisting.

For purposes of reporting, Scaled Scores for each section (Section I: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Section III: Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) and Total along with the Percentiles shall be published by IIM Bangalore.

According to IIM Bangalore the CAT 2016 convening authority CAT 2016 shall be conducted in two sessions. Two different Test Forms shall be administered in two Test Sessions. In order to ensure fairness and equity in comparison of performances of the candidates across different test sessions, the scores of the candidates shall be subjected to a process of Normalization.

Transparent CAT 2016
Since its computerization in 2009, CAT has been witnessing more technical problems. As such the demand for more transparency in the exam regarding the assessment of level of difficulty throughout the testing window; technical issue in the beginning or during the exam causing anxiety among test takers affecting their performance level; Assessment of lost time when system got stalled during the exam; scoring pattern among others has been on rise. Past CAT exams due to some of these problems had to face legal complications also.

In view of the experts, it has been a good decision by IIM Bangalore to continue with the 2015 model of 1 day exam to put back CAT to its pristine glory and keep it as single day test. It will make CAT 2016 more transparent and free from any technical glitches and other problems. With a well devised preparation plan candidates appearing in CAT 2016 may find the exam more transparent and accessible.

Similar type of questions
The most important benefit that CAT 2016 test takers will have with 1day exam is that the test will maintain similar level of difficulty across the exam.
IIM Bangalore, the CAT 2016 convening IIM, proposes to ensure fairness and equity in the exam by comparing the performances of the candidates across different test sessions.
Prof S K Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability and mentor on CAT 2016 preparation is of the view that the shortest testing window in CAT 2016 will have more positive implications as during the longer testing window the candidates become tensed and speculated on irrelevant type of questions, instead of focusing on their studies.