1. Career Launcher, headquartered in New Delhi

aThere will be dedicated computer laboratories at our coaching centers and on an average 15 hours of online preparation would be provided for every 100 hours of classes at the centers. Computer based learning will become an integral part of teaching methodology and there will be focus on making students realize and appreciate the difference in reading from the computer screen in terms of comprehension and pace. Learning of concepts may be transported to the computer. The test taking strategy, instructions given in class and mindset of students as well as teachers will have to dramatically change. Currently we are experimenting with various formats as regards testing. There is a likelihood of coaching institutes passing on a part of the costs to the students, but I believe that would depend on the scale of investment each set up would do.a a Mr R Shivakumar, Director (Research and Development) a Career Launcher

Career Launcher’s currently available online resources
Products offered: CATScan, Online Mock CATs.

CATScan – Cost: Depends on module selected. Modules available at discounted rates for Career Launcher students. Function: A program with approximately 1000 questions from previous CAT papers. Questions have been solved and analyzed.

Online Mock – Cost: Rs 100 per mock test. Function: These tests can either be given online or downloaded in PDF format and taken offline. In the latter case, after taking the test, the answers can be submitted online to get the simulated national CAT percentile and test analysis.

2. Career Forum, based in Pune

aWe have already started an online test series in which we have stuck to the CAT 2007 format. Coaching centers will be required to have two testing engines in place; an engine in which the paper based test is replicated on the computer and another which would be a computer adaptive module. There will be changes in teaching methodology too. These days there is a huge demand for online resources which are free of cost. Keeping this in mind, we are focusing on web based deliverables which would include an online testing engine, online course models and some free resources. Free resources would be those where minimum human effort is required. Online education cannot substitute for classroom learning but there is a focus on simulating the environment of a classroom on the Internet. We are still not clear as to what methodology would be used to ensure such a level of interaction. Coaching centers will be required to invest in technology but passing on the burden to students will not be easy. It as an open and competitive market and a significant portion of the expenses would have to be borne by the institution.a a Sujata Khanna (Chairperson a Career Forums).

Career Forum’s currently available online resources
Products offered: One CATathlon test, Student CafA
Cost: Free
‘Student CafA’ is a collection of Discussion forums, articles library, test drills and quizzes

3. T.I.M.E., based out of Hyderabad

aAt the end of the day, concept is king. The basic concepts will remain the same and classroom education would still be the key for doing well. Additional classes may be held so that students can get hands-on experience of working on the computer. The changes that would take place would be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. For an online testing structure to be established, there would be certain expenditure incurred in investing in tie-ups with schools or software vendors and part of this may be passed on to the student. It is unlikely that CAT 2009 will be a computer adaptive test as for such a test to be held there has to be a huge database of questions as well as detailed records of the percentage of students who got a particular question right or wrong. With such a significant development of the CAT going online, it is improbable that there will be a further dramatic change in its format. What is likely is that the process of digitizing information will get accelerated. As far as whether there will be a change in how coaching centers would seek to differentiate themselves, the quality of teaching would still be the most important issue for a coaching center. The stuff would make the difference, not the packaging.a a Mr Jaideep Singh Chowdhary, Product Manager a CAT, T.I.M.E.

T.I.M.E.’s currently available online resources
Product offered: one Mock CAT
Cost : Free

4. IMS Learning Resources, headquartered in Mumbai

aThe objective for a student is to make himself test structure independent. IMS has training programs in place for GRE and GMAT and if it were to be confirmed that the CAT will be an online examination then it would be a question of scaling the infrastructure. We are in talks with various vendors as preparation for mock tests being conducted online and other forms of integration. If the CAT were to go online, the skills tested and the basic objective of the test will not change. Further, it is only in the last four-five months leading up to the test that honing test taking ability is focused on. As far as the format of the test goes, CAT as a paper based test also does not have a fixed format. Students and institutes would both be hugely affected if the CAT were to go online. Coaching centers would probably be the least affected.a a Mr Vinayak Kudva (Head, Products a IMS India).

IMS’ currently available online resources
Product offered: MyIMS
Cost: MyIMS not available for non IMS students
MyIMS is a resource containing blogs of mentors, forums and quizzes.

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