First day first show: Good beginning with no glitches surprises many

CAT 2010, the 20-day long computer based test for
admission to the IIMs and 159 other B-schools, is 
being delivered across 240 labs in 78test centres in
 33 cities across the country.

The first day of CAT 2010 is on the verge of getting over while writing this report. Prometric, the test executing firm of CAT 2010, has reported that 4,548 candidates are taking the first day test across India.

With respect to the question pattern and format CAT 2010 has not thrown any surprise. There are 60 questions, which are divided equally among the three sections, Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. 
According to the students, the toughest section was Quantitative Ability followed by Verbal Ability.

According to Gautam Puri, Vice Chairman, Career Launcher, the difficulty level of the paper was on the easier side. “The questions were relatively easy as far as the first paper was concerned. In each section 15 questions can be attempted. If you have attempted 42 or more questions correctly, then it will reap pretty good results,” he said.

But he also warned the future CAT 2010 takers not to get carried away with this. “The paper will be different every day, though the difficulty level should remain similar. But you must keep revising and practicing as you don’t know what is in store for you,” Puri mentioned. 

Till now, when the second slot of the test day is nearing end, there has been no reports of any kind of technical snags. Though few centers started the test after a little delay but that was not a major issue. We hope it continues like this for the rest of the CAT days.

CAT 2010, the 20-day long computer based test for admission to the IIMs and 159 other B-schools, is being delivered across 240 labs in 78 test centres in 33 cities across the country. A total of 2.04 lakh students will be taking the CAT 2010 this year in the entire test period of 20 days.

Forty different sets of question papers have been prepared for CAT this year. The results of CAT 2010 will be declared on January 12. Prometric, entrusted with the task of conducting the test in the online format, had released a 'practice test' paper earlier to familiarize the candidates with the online format.

The maximum number of CAT takers this year will be from Maharashtra (30,296). 19,931 candidates from Delhi will be taking a shot at the test. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are the other leading states with respect to the number of test takers.

The CAT 2010 is being watched keenly by top MBA experts, academia and education policy makers as the CAT 2009, the first computer based CAT, was a not-so-good experience for many test takers with reports from across the country on server breakdowns. 

Prof. Himanshu Rai, Convener, CAT 2010,  had said, “I am certain that the technical problems that we faced last year would not occur this year. We have taken ample measures to ensure a sound, comfortable testing environment.”

The test executing agency Prometric had earlier informed  that they are taking all steps this year to give a smooth test taking experience to the test takers. "We are all committed to make CAT 2010 seamless and glitch less exam," said Soumitra Roy, MD, Prometric, India 

The CAT 2010 has far lesser number of test takers compared to CAT 2009. There is a dip of more than 15% in CAT takers this year. Experts say that it is a blessing in disguise as only the good contenders for the IIM seats will be in the race. 

In a recent  poll the management community also feels that with more number of seats in the IIMs the chances for the test takers are brighter this year. The three new IIMs have added to the number of seats available. These are IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Rohtak, which have started their academic session this year.