CAT retest from today, 10,000 to appear

Nearly 10,000 MBA applicants will take the second phase (retest) of the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009 over the next two days (January 30 and 31) after the prestigious examination, which was computerised last year, had to be extended due to technical glitches.

Prometric, the US company which provided software for the test, has announced a change in schedule for the morning session due to bad weather in many parts of India. “Due to potential adverse weather conditions in parts of India, and to further protect the integrity and security of CAT, Prometric and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will change the morning session to start at noon. Candidates scheduled for this session need to arrive at their test centres by 10 am for security and identity checks,” Prometric said in a statement.

While on the one hand, some candidates who were satisfied with their first attempt, have declined to take the retest, others are pensive about it. At least four aspirants from Ahmedabad, who were called for the second phase of CAT, have declined the offer and asked the IIMs to consider their previous scores. “The centres allotted to us are not in Ahmedabad. Moreover, we were satisfied with our previous scores. Hence, we decided not to take the retest,” said an aspirant in Ahmedabad.

“During the first attempt, my timer did not work, resulting in extra time for the test. The IIMs have called me for the test and although I think the test went fine, I will have to attempt it again. It’s a bit unfair but I will have to go with the flow,” said another candidate from Bangalore.