IDG News is reporting that a surge of Malware on the testing systems set to be used to administer the Common Admission Test (CAT) to students wanting to enroll at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) caused many of the testing centers to withhold the exams. According to notices from the IIM, testing is being rescheduled.
Malware grinds CAT exams to a halt. (IMG: J. Anderson)
In the past, the CAT exam was taken in a single day, using a standard form that required only a selection box be filled in. However, this year the CAT exam was a computer-based test, and the firm running the process, Prometric, spread out the test over ten days, between November 28 and December 7 in 32 cities. However, forty-seven labs had Malware problems, and were unable to accommodate the students.
IIM Indore and IIM Bangalore both issued statements that explained that due to “technical problems chiefly arising out of Virus attacks,” they have not been able to administer the examinations as planned.
“Prometric is continually assessing these labs and should testing not be possible for any session at specific labs (note that there could be several labs within one test centre and this is referred to as 'Site Code' on your Admit Card), affected candidates will be contacted by SMS and email. Rescheduling of these candidates will then be done and new appointments communicated again via SMS and email,” a statement on the CAT IIM website said.
While Prometric is assessing the situation, testing has resumed, and those who registered are being offered a wide range of options with regard to rescheduling. The goal is to have everyone rescheduled before the December 7 deadline. A FAQ is available at http://catiim.in
An interesting side note that appeared in the initial IDG report said that because of the Malware infestation, candidates could contest their grades in court. However, this isn’t a cut and dry case, as the infected systems were not used to administrator the CAT exam. However, the legal system in India isn’t like the system here in the states, so perhaps there is a case to be made. If not, then the legal angle is just FUD.
Then again, the IDG report cited several local experts who attacked the computer-based testing process and one political party noted that the incident was a shame for a country that calls itself an IT superpower.
If you’re taking the CAT exam, leave a comment and tell us if you experienced any issues and how you think you did. It would be interesting to know if it is as hard as some of the testing here in the states. Either way, good luck on the test!
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter
Advertising
Comment on this Story