CAT fiasco-virtual testing of servers was necessary

Updated on: Monday, November 30, 2009

Mumbai: The company conducting IIM-CAT examination should have opted for virtual testing of servers and the overall system before actual test was conducted, a top official of Career Launcher which conducts mock online tests for students appearing for CAT using internet, said.

'We are shocked and wonder how such a reputed US company (Prometric) go online without having a built-in redundancy system and without alternate servers to take care of discrepancies,' R Shivakumar , Director Academics and R & D of the Bangalore based Career Launcher said.

Reacting to system failures at several exam centres on Saturday , he said usually such large programmes should have undergone a virtual testing of servers as well as the system before the actual tests are conducted.

'In yesterdays case, one wonders whether it was a complete oversight of Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) of the basics,' Shivakumar said.

Fifty centres had problems and that is a major issue in this contract with Prometric, the US company which undertook the work and the IIMs should have been more vigilant and done their homework, he said.

'We conduct the mock tests using internet which is much more challenging and I am sure Prometric and IIMs will rectify the initial hiccups and the students will complete their exams within next ten days,' Shivakumar said.

CAT fiasco-virtual testing of servers was necessary

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