CAT 2010 is easier than expected — is the verdict among those who have taken the exam so far. At most, it has been moderately difficult, say those who have taken the test until now. Depending on individual study preparedness and section-weakness, one or the other section may have turned unmanageable, but not to the point of labelling any paper ‘difficult.’

The computers assigned for testing too have not played truant this year and CAT has more or less been having a smooth run.

Prof Himanshu Rai, convenor for CAT 2010 says that in fact at all centres across the country, there has not been a single issue. “Everything is going on as perfectly as expected,” says Rai.

Easy

Almost everyone we spoke to among those who have taken the CAT in the last one week say that the paper was easy to handle. Hitesh Agarwal from Gujarat says that Quant was a little difficult in his slot “but English was simple and I would term it as a moderate paper.” Same with Himanshu Nandwani, also from Gujarat who said that the paper was lengthy and while Quant was good, English was average in his slot.

Ramita, who did not want to give her second name said that the paper was very easy in her slot. “People just need to learn to manage time. If that is done, most will find it easy. English was extremely easy and DI not at all difficult to manage.” Ramita attempted about 50 questions.

Krunal Prajapati, who took his exam on November 3 said that he attempted 60 questions and while DI was lengthy, “Some of the other questions were styled differently, for instance, RC was had lengthy passages.” For Devanshu Kimalia, who took his first CAT ever this year, Quant was the easiest while DI was vague. “I think my paper was not too good,” he said with a sigh. He attempted about 40 questions

Besides the individual performance in CAT 2010, the only thing that is making news in CAT circles, are the inconsistencies in management at various centres. Prof Rai said that the only issue he has got to hear of is about someone who had reached the centre without proper identification. “This morning too there was a case of a person who forgot to take his photo identity along. It is ridiculous because this point has been stressed over and over again and yet people are not paying heed,” Prof Rai adds.

Sameer Pandey could not make it to the exam on the first day of the season, in the first slot. “My centre was at Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai and I was travelling from Andheri to Kandivali. There was so much traffic on the way that I just did not make it. I reached at 8:45 am. The test was to start at 10:00 am, but the security guards didn’t let me in.”

Sameer says he has written a couple of mails to IIM Lucknow in the hope of being awarded another slot but has received no response as yet. We asked Prof Rai on Sameer’s behalf and this is what he said, “No. We cannot allow a reschedule to anyone who has missed his exam. There is a basic discipline required. Whatever be the case, efforts have to go in to reach the centre on time.”

However on the same day and same slot, at IBSAR in Navi Mumbai, applicants were actually allowed in the centre at 8.45 am.

At MeritTrac Services Pvt Ltd, a centre in Andheri, Mumbai, the security staff outside allowed students to take in handkerchiefs and water bottles.

When asked about the inconsistencies, Prof Rai said that only handkerchief which are paper napkin would not be allowed. “With regards to water, you cannot take a bottle in, but if you ask for water, it will be given to you. There is no ambiguity on this front. Applicants cannot take anything with them into the exam room. There is a provision to deposit one’s belongings with the centre authorities,” he said.

In yet another incident, Ramita who gave her exam at a centre in Mumbai walked out of the exam much before the others. When asked how she had managed it, she told Pagalguy that she logged out, visited the wash room and then left, no one stopped her. Realising she was the only one at the out gate, Ramita spoke to security officials at the gate, who told her that as long as she had logged out, it was fine. After ten minutes, she saw the others, (who gave the test with her) walking out.

There have been cases of tests starting late. Says Mumbai-based Pritesh Bari who appeared for CAT at a centre in Vikhroli, “We had to stand in the queue till 9:30 am then we were told that there is a power snag. We had to stand, no chairs were provided till 11:45 am. After which the biometric scanning was done. The test started at 12:15 and got over at 2:30pm.” Bari quips that he thought he was being put under a physical stress test, as opposed to the mental one that he had gone for (CAT).

Candidate gets incorrect center on Admit Card

What of course takes the cake is Himanshu Shah, an applicant from Delhi who had registered for a centre in Delhi for his CAT paper but today when he logged on to print his Admit Card, he found that he has been given a centre in Noida. Himanshu had printed his admit card earlier which said his centre was in Delhi and he had even visited the centre once to check the exact location. Himanshu is already making travel plans to reach Noida which is almost 50 kms from his home in Delhi. His exam is slated for tomorrow (November 4). And guess what the telephone number for both the CAT centres is the same – 124-4517177

When asked, this was the statement from Prometric. “On the evening of 3 November, as we conducted our standard set up procedures for the following days test, we became aware of some hardware instability in one of the test centres in Delhi. As part of our contingency plan to minimise impact on candidates, duplicate appointments were made at an alternative venue for candidates scheduled at this test centre on 4 November. After replacement of faulty hardware, all computers functioned perfectly and candidates were able to test as scheduled. Candidates who printed their Admit Card through the CAT registration site last night and arrived at the alternative venue in Greater Noida were also able to complete testing successfully.”

Vasundhara Vyas adds,

The total number of candidates who have taken the test till now are 47,407, which works out to 23% of the total number of applicants. October 31, a Sunday, was the day that the highest number of candidates took the test until now (11,485). The first day (October 27) had the lowest registrations at 4,548 candidates.

CAT used to be known for its surprise element and this year’s surprise element until now is ‘no surprise’. The questions being asked are the kinds that mock CATs would have made the applicants practise. CAT 2010 till now has been of moderate difficulty. The DI section has been having lengthy caselets with only one or two questions to answer. The Verbal sectional has been termed as dicey or tricky in discussions of candidates who have taken the test. Finally Quant, some call it moderate and others tough. But until now, hardly anybody has called any of the sections in any of the slots ‘extremely difficult or un-do-able’.

The most common recommendation by those who have taken the test is to sleep well the night before — else you are bound to sleep off during the hour-long wait in between the biometric testing and the test commencement.