So its a virus after all. ‘Vital Information Resource Under Siege’ is what, according to Prometric played truant with the online testing of CAT 2009. A press note released by Prometric and IIMs on November 29, 2009 says:

“While almost 20,000 candidates completed their exams on Day One, computer viruses at a number of testing centers prevented over 2,000 candidates from taking the exams. Prometric is committed to ensuring a smooth testing experience for CAT test-takers and has dispatched additional technicians and hardware to address these isolated issues.”

Ramesh Nava, Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific, Japan and Africa, Prometric says, “Exhaustive plans were developed and put in place well in advance of the start of the testing window Unfortunately, the particular viruses and malware that attacked the test delivery system were not detected by the anti-virus software at the testing centers. Candidates are our first and foremost priority and Prometric is making every effort to provide all CAT aspirants an opportunity to test”

The press note, released after a long wait from the candidates and news agencies alike goes on to say that all the affected candidates “have been notified and are currently being rescheduled within this year’s testing period.”

Apologies have been sought by Prometric. Soumitra Roy, Managing Director, India, Prometric, says, “We truly regret the additional stress that candidates were subjected to over the first weekend of the CAT 2009, and are doing everything we can to make the rest of the testing experience as smooth as possible.”

The press note, out after more than 24 hours after the test began does little to explain the thousands of glitches that took place in the online CAT and attributes it flimsily to a ‘virus’. For example, the untrained staff, Prometric personnel not reaching the faulty testing centers on time, delays in registration and the likes cannot be assigned to a virus but to the the lack of testing of the process and the software before putting it out in the open.

Note: All candidates should check the website www.catiim.in for probable cancellation of their testing centers for tomorrow. The website will be updated as it was done for today’s testing centers.