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The first ever online CAT exam is fast losing credibility. Many labs reportedly cancelled the test in Mumbai, Bangalore and the national capital region. The IIM committee says that majority of the students affected have been given new dates.

The Convenor of the CAT committee, Satish Deodhar, joined CNN-IBN on India At 9 to assure students that all glitches were taken care of and that they need not be worried about either the outcome of the test or being accommodated for another go.

Here are excerpts from the discussion.

CNN-IBN: The technical glitches have continued for the third day on Monday. What is IIM's assessment of the situation and the reasons for this?

Satish Deodhar: Let me make it clear to start with that we had partnered witnh Prometric which is the world's leading test development and testing agency. The IIM's job's was to come up with the test itself and that is what our core competence is. We had a contract to deliver the test and what has happened is that in the delivery process is that there have been gliches because of a virus attack and therefore some of the test sites didn't work. So that is basically the reason why this happened.

CNN-IBN: Are you saying the responsibility for these glitches lies primarily with Prometric and the IIMs have no role to play in the matter?

Satish Deodhar: Yes, I will certainly say that the delivery part has failed. Infact, I would say that the IIMs really have in mind that the future lies in copmputerised tests and in this direction, our faculty members have put in a lot of hard work. We are coming up with many tests and I thank them (IIMs) and I really hope that now Prometric will do its part well. But they are the world's leading institution in conducting these tests so I think they will do their job in the coming days.

CNN-IBN: Considering they (the server crash) have continued for three-odd days and may do so in the future, is there a possibility of extending this 10-day window period that has been assigned for these tests?

Satish Deodhar: To start with, the test sights had some excess capacity and therefore if some candidate has to be rescheduled they can be accommodated in the coming days. However, if there is a need to extend them by one or two days more, Prometric is prepared. Prometric had kept some buffer days.

CNN-IBN: Prometric has been under the scanner even in the past. There are some who are saying this was not the best choice for a hi-profile exam of this nature and more preparedness in terms of dry runs etc should have been carried out.

Satish Deodhar: The computers not working properly, that is the result of the viruses that have crept in and the selection of Prometric was the decision of all IIMs. It was a long process, but unfortunately, whenever you prepare for anything and that happens for the first time, technology cannot be 100 per cent accurate. And I am sure that Prometric will have to get back on this.

CNN-IBN: Even amongst the students who have given the exams successfully, there is a lot of apprehension whether their papers have been submitted successfully, whether their answers have got registered etc.

Satish Deodhar: Since this was the first time this kind of test was conducted, we actually did a lot to allay their fears by giving demo tests on the web and giving out a practical guide, but because of the virus attack, the processes got delayed and that's why the candidates thought that questions were coming very slowly onto their computers. But they got the same time to answer the questions. I don't think they lost any time and I am sure that Prometric sorts everything in their database once a test has been completed.

CNN-IBN: One understands the assurances from the CAT panel but these glitches have upset schedules for many children who were going to give other exams or had college exams.

Satish Deodhar: I really sympathise with all the candidates but they have to understand that they were part of something historical. This is the first time and it probably didn't go that well. Sure we are going to offer a re-test, but I can't assure a complete match of their preferences. They may have to accommodate and that may not be completely satisfying for them. If the candidates will be understanding, I would appreciate that.

CNN-IBN: Are you assuring that come tomorrow and in the days ahead, the problem will not recur and has been rectified?

Satish Deodhar: Right now, we just want to complete the tests and be just to the candidates and IIMs will do a review of this a little later. But right now it's important to give a test to each candidate.

More on: Online CAT exam, server crash, IIM, IIT, Bell The Cat