Prometric Testing Private Limited (Prometric India) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prometric Inc which provides testing and assessment services. In 2009, the company was awarded a contract by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) for entry into top management schools in India. In an interview to Archana M Prasanna, Prometric’s Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific, Japan and Africa, Ramesh Nava, talks about how it will go about its task. Edited excerpts:
What was the brief given to you by the IIMs?
We believe that the IIMs may have sought three things in their transition to the computer-based testing format — consistency, convenience and confidence. Consistency in the form of a highly-standardised testing environment, convenience from the ability to choose from among several locations across India and multiple test times, and confidence which comes from eliminating the uncertainties associated with the handling and distribution of paper-based score sheets and test booklets.
What is the nature of your contract with the IIMs?
Ours is a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with the IIMs. Prometric will be working on the following activities with the IIMs: Facilitate item (test question) writing, test design and construction, application development and processing, test registration and scheduling, test centre preparation, test administration, scoring and reporting.
How does the online test compare compare with printing and distribution of exam papers?
Computer-based testing (CBT) is an exam delivery method by which tests are delivered via a computer, usually at a secure, proctored test centre. They can be conducted either through offline systems or online through access to the World Wide Web. CAT is going to be a computer-based test (CBT) and not an internet-based test (IBT) ie candidates do not take the test on an internet site. The biggest and the most recognised benefit to examinees is the flexibility in scheduling tests according to the date, time and location suitable to the candidate or even on-demand testing. It also reduces risk of leakage associated with printing and distribution of exam papers.
Since the edit option was not available in the application form initially, students had to purchase additional applications. Will there be a refund?
In response to requests from CAT applicants who have inadvertently made wrong selections or other errors in their registration submissions, Prometric and IIMs are currently making enhancements to the CAT registration and scheduling website. From the evening of September 18, candidates will be able to log on to https://iim.prometric.com to not only reschedule for their CAT, request for their Admit Card to be re-sent, but also to update their Candidate Profile. Those who have bought an additional voucher due to registration errors will be refunded for the second voucher. They must write a request to Prometric by filling in the online form at www.prometric.com/IIM-CAT/contactus, using the subject “I have a problem with my voucher number”. Candidate Care will then get back to candidates on how this can be done.
Would you agree that CAT is unfriendly to the differently abled?
Decades of research has shown that test-takers who are administered the same test on a computer, and then on paper, perform equally well, even among individuals that have had little or no previous experience in the use of a computer. Moreover, the format of the CAT 2009 will remain more or less the same except that candidates will now read the questions from a computer screen and use a mouse to click on the correct answer. For differently-abled candidates, we have made provisions whereby, the candidates are allowed to use approved testing assistance for the CAT. Examples of these include the abacus, hearing aid, wheel chair, magnifying screen and scribe/reader. Additionally, candidates with scribe requirement will be allowed extended time of an hour for the test.
