CAT2011:Helpfultipsforasmoothexperience

SoumitraRoy,ManagingDirector,PrometricIndia
With only a week left before the start of this years testing window, it would be reasonable to assume that mostcandidatesaresufficientlywellpreparedfortheCommonAdmissionTest2011.Whileafirmgriponthe test content is definitely the most important cornerstone of preparation for an exam; familiarity with the testingenvironmentalwaysgivesoneanedge. PreCATpreparation Prometricplacesimmenseimportanceoncandidateconvenience.Itisforthisreasonthatwehaveequipped theIIMswithpreparatorytoolsintheformofinformation,videosandapracticetest,fortheirCATwebsite.All candidates are encouraged to take the practice test on www.catiim.in and familiarize themselves with the examscreenlayout,navigationtoolslikeNext,Previous,Marketc.,reviewscreenandonscreentimer. Thiswouldalsoenablethemtounderstandtheconceptofthetimedsectionsandalleviateanyapprehension theymayhaveregardingthenewformat. It is also advisable for candidates to check their test centre location, travel time and traffic conditions in advance,andplantheirtravelaccordingly.Amapwithtraveldirectionsisavailableforalltestcentresonthe CATwebsite.Candidatesshouldalsogetalltheirdocumentsinplaceadayortwobeforethetestdaytoavoid any last minute stress. These would be the Admit Card for CAT 2011 and a valid and original photo identification.SC/STandDAcandidatesshouldalsobringalongsupportingdocumentswiththem.Foralistof acceptableformsofphotoidentification,visittheCATwebsite.Ifindoubt,candidatesmaybringanotarized AffidavitinEnglish. Prometricmayalsosendimportantupdatesviaemailsocandidatesshouldchecktheiremailaccountregularly. TheCATwebsiteisalsoagoodsourceforthelatestinformation. Whattoexpectatthetestcentre As stated in all previous communication, candidates are expected to arrive at their scheduled test centre at leastanhourandahalfbeforetheirscheduledtesttime.OnlyregisteredCAT2011candidateswillbeallowed insidethetestcentre.CandidatesmustpresenttheirAdmitCardandphotoidentificationandcarrythosewith thematalltimes.Candidateswillnotbeallowedtotakethetestifeitheroftheseisnotpresented.Apartfrom AdmitCards,photoidentification,SC/STandDAdocuments,nothingwillbeallowedinsidetheactualtesting room.Candidateswillberequiredtostoresmallpersonalbelongingsinabagawayfromthetestingarea.They shouldnotbringbags,valuablesandlargeitemstothetestcentreasPrometricwillnotbeabletostorethese. As part of the biometric checkin process, a candidates digital image as well as fingerprint will be captured. This will allow the IIMs to verify a candidates identity during any followup interviews. Once the checkin process is completed, candidates will be escorted to their assigned seats. There could be some waiting time beforetheteststarts,toallowforallcandidatestobecheckedin.Forthefulltestdayprocedure,avideois availablefromtheCATwebsite.

TakingtheCAT2011 Priortothecommencementoftheactualtest,therewillbea15minutetutorialthatcandidatesareadvisedto gothrough.Allcandidateswillbeprovidedwithscratchpaper,pencilsandaneraserforuseduringthetest. After reading and accepting the nondisclosure agreement, the test will begin. All candidates will first be presentedwiththesectiononQuantitativeAbility(QA)&DataInterpretation(DI).Acountdowntimersetat1 hour10minutes(i.e.70minutes)willappearonthetoprightcornerofeveryscreen.Candidatescannavigate within this section using the Next, Previous and Review buttons. Since the two sections are separately timed,testtakerscanfocusalltheirenergiesononesectionatatime.Oncethetimeendsforthefirstsection, candidates will no longer be able to go back to it. The second section on Verbal Ability (VA) and Logical Reasoning(LR),willthenbegin,withafreshtimercountingdownonceagainfrom1hour10minutes.Security is taken very seriously at Prometric. The security measures we have in place for CAT not only protects IIMs intellectual property, but also the test experience of genuine, legitimate candidates. All testing areas will be audio and video recorded and any suspicious or disruptive behavior could lead to a candidates test being invalidatedbytheIIMs.Foranyissuesduringthetest,candidatesmayraisetheirhandtonotifyatestcentre administrator.Atechnicianwillalsobeonstandbyateverylocation. Allregisteredcandidateswillgettotest Prometrichastakenallthenecessaryprecautionstoensurecandidateshaveasmoothtestingexperience.All testcentreshavebeenquarantinedpriortothestartofthetestingwindowtoallowPrometrictoprepareand testalltheequipmentthatisbeingusedforCAT. Intheunlikelyeventofatechnicalissue,candidatesarerequestedtoremaincalmandimmediatelyalertatest centreadministrator.Allourtestcentrestaffhavebeenfullytrainedandcertified,andarewellequippedto assistcandidatesduringthetest.Wehavebuiltinexcesscapacityinalllocationstocaterforanyunforeseen technical issues that cannot be resolved by the onsite technician. In case a new terminal is assigned to a candidate,thetestwillresumefromthepointitwaslastleftsothecandidatewillnotloseanytestingtime. Finally,wewouldliketoassureallcandidatesthatPrometricremainscommittedtoprovidingthebestpossible testingexperience,andthatallregisteredcandidateswillgettotestwithinthisyearstestingwindow. WewishallcandidatestheverybestforCAT2011.

Checklistforasmoothexperience
CarrytherightdocumentslatestAdmitCard,originalandvalididentification,SC/STandDA supportdocuments Plansufficienttraveltime,checkmap/directionsontheCATwebsite Arriveatleastoneandahalf(1.5)hoursbeforescheduledtesttime Makeuseofthepracticetesttogetafeelofthefunctionalityandnavigationoftheactualtest CheckemailsregularlyforanyupdatesfromPrometric