CAT 2011: Day 1 students face system errors, login issues

Crashing computers, log-in problems upset students on the first day of Common Admission Test, 2011 at the IBSAR centre at Belapur CBD, Navi Mumbai. As many as 3,000 students appeared for the first day of the CAT exam. Divya Nair reports.

The first day of CAT 2011 was almost a nightmare for some students who faced technical problems at the Institute of Business Studies and Research, IBSAR, test centre.

While about four students from the centre faced system errors, 17 of them reportedly faced problems while logging in.

20-year-old Mansi Kirtane, who had travelled about 300 kilometres from Ahmednagar to write the exam, says, "About 17 students in our room faced problems while logging in. Although we reached early and the systems were already switched on, when we tried to log in, the computer did not accept passwords.

These 17 resumed only when the authorities at the centre sorted out the error.

"We had to wait for 30 minutes before we resumed the exam. But I was really scared and nervous since this is the first time I am giving the exam," Mansi, a third year commerce student at Sarda college, Ahmedngar, told rediff.com.

Reader invite:

So, how was your first day of CAT? Were you nervous? Did you reach on time? Did you face any problems at the test centre? Did you manage to crack all the questions? Share your CAT experience with us. Write in to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line 'My CAT experience' along with your picture. We will publish the best entries in rediff.com. Keep watching this space for updates.

Meanwhile in another room, Aditya Jondhale (name changed to protect identity on request), 24 said his computer crashed. "Our room had about 23 students but four of us were delayed because our computers hung up," said this mechanical engineer from Mumbai.

"We were given the option of rescheduling the exam for a later date or take the compensatory extra time on the same day. Since I don't have time to come back, I thought I might as well wait and give it today itself," added Aditya.

"It's really disappointing that the authorities haven't taken precautions to avoid such technical errors," said Jayprakash Ahire, whose daughter also gave the exam and faced problems while logging in.

Mansi also stated that the authorities were greatly co-operative. "Thankfully, the authorities helped us to calm down. They told us not to worry and assured us we will be given extra time."

 Reader invite:

So, how was your first day of CAT? Were you nervous? Did you reach on time? Did you face any problems at the test centre? Did you manage to crack all the questions? Share your CAT experience with us. Write in to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line 'My CAT experience' along with your picture. We will publish the best entries in rediff.com. Keep watching this space for updates.

As for the brighter picture, Ashwin Verghese (name changed to protect identity on request), who gave the exam from Thakur College, Kandivli centre says things have improved greatly from last year. "There were no major technical glitches at the Thakur College centre. In fact the guy who was sitting next to me faced problems while logging in. He was quickly taken to a different computer so that did not affect him much. I am quite impressed by the way things have improved from last year. Even the authorities are very co-operative and ensured smooth execution of the exam."

Over 2.05 lakh aspirants have registered for the CAT exam this year.

CAT is a qualifying entrance test that determines admission to post graduate programmes at 13 Indian Institutes of Management and more than 150 other B-schools that accept the CAT scores.

The test that commences October 22 will be on till November 18.

 Reader invite:

So, how was your first day of CAT? Were you nervous? Did you reach on time? Did you face any problems at the test centre? Did you manage to crack all the questions? Share your CAT experience with us. Write in to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line 'My CAT experience' along with your picture. We will publish the best entries in rediff.com. Keep watching this space for updates.