IIMs to conduct online CAT 2009 from Nov 28-Dec 7

New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) have announced the dates for online Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009. The first computer-based CAT exam will be held between November 28 and December 7, 2009. The test will be held twice — once in the morning and the other in the evening. A candidate can choose a test date, session (morning/afternoon), and venue across thirty centres (cities) all over India, subject to availability. However, IIMs have not yet clarified whether the online CAT exam would be available for candidates abroad. The CAT scores not only determine admission into the IIMs, but also to several other reputed management institutes. While about 95,000 candidates took the CAT in 2003, the number rose to about 250,000 in 2008, indicating a whopping 163 percent rise. According to the IIMs, this has resulted in severe strain on the administrative system of the institutes to conduct the CAT in its existing format. The computer based CAT will be candidate-friendly, flexible in the selection of test date, ease registration process, provide better physical environment and test experience, and enhanced security in terms of biometric identification of candidates and video monitoring. The IIMs have been conducting CAT in paper-and-pencil format for the last 33 years. Ninety percent of those who appear for the CAT are estimated to be proficient in working on computers.