Online CAT This Year – India Finally Embracing E-education?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) after recent months of speculation will finally be held Online this year. IIM has announced further details regarding Online CAT conducted from this year. CAT would no longer be a one day – one session appearance test but would now be conducted in 10 day long schedule with two test sessions in a day.

CAT-2009 will be held during November 28, 2009 to December 7, 2009. A candidate will be given choice in terms of test date, session (morning/afternoon), and venue across thirty centers (cities) all over India, subject to availability.

To appear for Online CAT, candidates will need to purchase scratch-vouchers from the designated bank branches, and later register online for CAT 2009. Vouchers would go on sale from 9 September 2009.

CAT 2009:  Frequently Asked Questions

• When is the advertisement for CAT 2009 going to appear?

CAT Advertisement will appear in leading newspapers on Sunday, 30 August 2009.

• Once  the   advertisement   appears, is   one   expected  to   buy  CAT   bulletin   from  designated banks?

No. One does not have to buy a bulky CAT bulletin. We want to go paperless. A prospective candidate buys a scratch-voucher from the designated bank branches, and, later registers online for CAT 2009.

• When does the sale of voucher start and end?

Sale of vouchers starts on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 at designated bank branches and their associate outlets. The sale ends on Thursday, 1 October 2009.

• When and how do I register for CAT 2009 after buying the voucher?

Online registration for CAT 2009 will also begin on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 and end on Thursday, 1 October 2009.Instructions on access to online registration will be given in the voucher, and, detailed registration instructions will be on the CAT website.

• When will CAT be held and can I choose a test date?

CAT  will  be   held  during the  period Saturday, 28 November 2009  – Monday, 7 December   20009. Yes, you can choose a test date, session (morning/afternoon), and venue across thirty centers (cities) all over India, subject to availability.

• Can you give more details on taking test in a CBT format?

Starting  Sunday, 30 August 2009, CAT website – www.catiim.in will provide all the details.

WATBlog earlier provided a list of Online sites to help candidates appearing for CAT. This education reform would surely help ease the tension for candidates as well as for institution itself. The Online test on such a large scale would certainly bring digital revolution in India as CAT is currently given by 250,000 candidates growing at some 20 per cent each year.

This announcement brings domestic IT opportunities for companies providing Online mock test or infrastructure for CAT trainers. This would also sprung up many Online Preparatory sites resembling the look and feel of the test.

Let’s hope this E-education initiative is replicated across Wide spectrum in India thus finally accruing the benefits of E-revolution to every Indians.