CAT crash: Prometric lends helping hand

In the wake of disruption in the Common Admission Test (CAT), American firm Prometric, which is conducting the test, today said it would try to accommodate any request of the affected students for change of centre or rescheduling the date of the exam.

"Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate any requests for changes," Prometric said in a statement.

The option to get the exam dates changed will be of immense help to a number of students whose revised schedule is clashing with other exams.

It has asked the affected students to contact the Candidate Care at Prometric and speak to the agents for any problem, including change in dates or centres.

"Candidates may call 1800 103 9293 for such requests. Please do not send an email," said the statement seeking to answer the frequently asked questions of the candidates.

About 2.41 lakh students are scheduled to appear in the test, which is being conducted over ten days till December seven, for admission into seven IIMs and a few other B-Schools

Due to "virus attack" in the computers, about 8,500 students could not appear in the test during the first four days of the entrance that started on Saturday last.

To clear the confusion of the students on rescheduled slots, the firm said that they will be allocated the best available slot and "priority would be to keep you appointment at the same test location".

Prometric has deployed additional technicians and hardware to rectify the issues at affected sites. The firm had to close down 50 labs at 24 centres on Sunday due to disruption cased by a virus attack.

"If the lab at which you are scheduled is not able to deliver the CAT on the day of your scheduled appointment, you will be contacted by SMS and email the day before. If you do not receive any notification, please proceed to your test centre as scheduled," the statement said.

The affected candidates will be contacted for a new appointment and this could take up to 48 hours, it said.

The firm said it will try and accommodate all candidates within this year's testing period which ends on December seven.

"If there is a need to extend beyond December seven, IIMs will announce this as soon as a decision has been made," it said.