Prometric, the American firm that conducted the first computer based Common Admission Test (CAT) in December last year, has been in the line of fire for the way it conducted the entire test and the glitches that surrounded it. Soumitra Roy, managing director, Prometric Services, India, explained to Kirtika Suneja the teething problems that his company faced and says if given another chance, he would establish Prometric’s credibility besides restoring students’ confidence in CAT. Edited excerpts:
Students have been filing Right to Information (RTI) applications but don’t seem to be getting any answers…
Students don’t file RTIs on us but the IIMs can ask us to investigate or they can do it themselves. However, we have not been asked to investigate a single RTI till now by the IIMs. Also, all RTIs relate to scores and in the pursuit of transparency, we can’t give out the questions. We can do an investigation if someone asks for it.
You have admitted there were lapses all through the administration of CAT. How will you establish credibility?
If the students’ confidence is shaken, then we will educate them by putting relevant information on the CAT-IIM (Indian Institute of Management) website so that they get a good teat taking experience next time. This year, we had teething problems as it was for the first time, in 31 years that CAT went computer-based and away from the paper pencil format. But undoubtedly, there were lapses though we took preventive actions. Now, we do intend to be more interactive and if we get another chance-which most probably we will take all precautions and establish that confidence among students. We will consistently come out with educative activities and white papers.
But the IIMs plan to review their contract with you...
The seven IIM directors decided to give Prometric the five-year contract and it is a huge contract that doesn’t happen everyday. It is completely upto the directors to review it. Discussions are on with the IIMs but the review will happen once the admission process and convocations are over. The contract review process will look at the structure of CAT for next year and how it is to be conducted.
Does Prometric plan to review its contract with NIIT?
NIIT has been our partner for a decade and they have also learnt from this experience. In fact, it has been a learning for all of us. Site preparation and readiness was NIIT’s responsibility but glitches happen while dealing with 17,000 computers across 32 cities. We will review our contract with NIIT but what will come out of it, is still a premature thing. We will review our terms and arrangement with them. Moreover, there are many competent people in the country and choice of NIIT was unanimous at that point of time because they have on ground experience. We have a lot of confidence in them.
The number of CAT takers in 2009 was lower than that in 2008 because CAT was becoming a computer-based test (CBT) for the first time. Will this fiasco discourage students from taking CAT this year?
The number fell not because CAT was becoming computer-based (CBT) but because the placements did not do well in 2009. Many people though of sticking to their job and not testing because of the slowdown. CBT-CAT couldn't have deterred the candidates. In 2010, I don’t think the numbers will go down as the market is now stabilising.