| The CAT Group, which designs the paper and has a representative from every IIM, once again surprised the aspirants, asking them to answer only 90 questions, as against 123 and 150 in CAT 2004 and 2005, respectively. |
| Bakul Dholakia, director of IIM-A said, "We are happy to announce that the test has been successfully conducted in all 24 centres. It is for the first time that negative marking has been announced formally in the paper, with an intention to communicate as many details of evaluation as possible." |
| He added, "Of the total 1,70,000 applicants, about 1,54,000 candidates might have appeared today for CAT 2006 if the trend of about 9 per cent absenteeism is continued this time too." |
| Due to the fewer number of questions this time, students eyeing the top slots expect very close competition. |
| Results of the test are likely to be out in the next six weeks, by mid-January next year. Interview sessions by different IIMs for their 1,350 seats, including the 280 at IIM-A, will start in mid-February. |
| About 75 business schools which will consider CAT scores this time are to announce their schedule for group discussions and interviews in the near future. |
| Dholakia said his institution was considering conducting CAT online, but nothing had been finalised yet. |
| "We will be in a position to talk about online test only when we have some concrete information to share. We have also decided not to outsource the CAT process at present. Adequate care is being taken to ensure the credibility of the process and we have witnessed a surge in institutes that have come forward to consider CAT scores, from 52 two years before to 75 B-schools now." |
| Dholakia avoided divulging any information about the internal probe in the CAT 2003 paper leak case, saying a chink was found at the level of printing of papers and the CAT Group had taken necessary action. |
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