Computer analysis, psychometric expertise in CAT evaluation

American firm Prometric, conducting the computerised Common Admission Test (CAT) this year, today said computer analysis and application of psychometric expertise will be followed to evaluate the answers of the IIM aspirants.

"Prometric and the IIMs will be following industry standard procedures to evaluate the answers. This consists of a combination of computer analysis and the application of psychometric expertise to ensure fairness and validity of the test results," Prometric (India) Managing Director Soumitra Roy said.

Psychometric is standardised procedure for measuring sensitivity or memory or intelligence or aptitude or personality of a candidate.

The firm has already said the answers have been not been affected by the virus attacks which disrupted the test from the beginning.

The firm said it is in the process of identifying candidates who have failed to appear in the test. "We will contact them to reschedule the examination," Roy said.

He said over 2.15 lakh candidates have successfully completed the 2009 CAT test. Nearly 2.41 lakh candidates had registered for the test.

The CAT committee yesterday said about 24,000 students did not show up for the test. Another 2,000 candidates, who were rescheduled from the first testing window, remain to be tested.

However, the announcement of the results may miss the scheduled date of January 22 since a re-test is conducted in mid-January for those who could not appear in the test.

"The computer-based testing has a transformative impact on education by expanding access, enhancing the test development process and producing results that are representative of the capabilities of test takers," Roy said.

The test, which was conducted over 11 days in 361 testing labs at 104 centres, was marred by virus attack and other technical glitches from the beginning. About 8,000 candidates were rescheduled during the first three days of the test.

While there were difficulties on the first days of the test, Prometric and NIIT operated the network at a very high standard during the final five days of the administration, Roy said.

"We are reviewing the standards that enabled us to deliver that high standard to ensure the same practices are used for the subsequent administration," he said.