Yes, that’s what CAT2009 can be termed as!
Known for its consistency in throwing surprises year after year, this year CAT had peanuts to throw at the aspirants.
As there was no hint of surprise…the candidates had no apprehensions pertaining to surprises, all they had was fanatical fear. Hence crashing of servers, shut down of the testing centres was all expected.
CAT2009 began with a declared surprise: that it was going online. There were no two ways about it. Now, after developments in disasters during the first 3 days, educational experts are suggesting a return to the paper-based format. So, this might be the most un/favorable surprise in store for us.
Mass cheating, blurring of screens, virus attacks are consistently being a part of this hysteria. Instances of questions being repeated in the 2nd and 3rd day sessions have also been reported. There has been no marking scheme released as yet. The entire process which garnered trust of students, the educational fraternity and the recruiters is far from being transparent and agog with discrepancies and ample mistrust. What big a question mark will this chain of events create on the IIM 2009-11 batch students is another issue for contemplation.
The CAT this year has generated more questions offline:
• How are the IIMs going to account for all these glitches?
• Are they even going to give a statement of assurance to the bewildered students??
• Was such great a reliance on an international firm justified, that the IIMs could allow them to conduct the maiden round of exams without any trials?
• Are they ever going to being questioned on having dared to mess around with a career defining exam for the elite class of students of India?
• Is a paper based re-test on the cards??
The entire episode is reduced to a farce. The credibility of the students going to enter the premier B-schools of India is on absolutely slippery grounds.
My sincere wishes to all the students taking this test. This year we are being tested for our patience. Intelligence; yes even that!!..it just got forsaken in this rut!
