The Upside And Downside Of A Computer Based Test (CBT)

The CAT test will be conducted over a few test days instead of a single day. The pattern will be similar to other online tests like GMAT and GRE. MBA aspirants will have the option of choosing the day and time of giving computer-based tests. Since CAT may be held on more than one day, students get more options. But such a CBT has both an upside as well as a downside.

The Upside of a CBT
• More students will have the opportunity to answer the test due to flexible timing and schedules.
• Following the GMAT pattern and other CBTs, there could be the possibility of retaking the test in the same year instead of waiting for the next year.
• The cost of administering these exams will reduce over time. Manual checking is very time consuming.
• The marginal cost of one more student taking a CBT is less than in the manual process. Hence, CBTs will encourage the IIMs to open more testing centres in the future furthering the flexibility for students to take the exam
• If test scores are displayed immediately after the test then students can objectively decide which colleges to apply to.

The Downside of a CBT
• Difficulty in scoring - With a CBT, the CAT exam will have a different set of questions each day. Results will be incomparable as unlike the past all students will not answer the same question paper. Even a meager difference in marks can decide admission into a college. Hence, the IIMs will need to make sure that the different exams have the same level of difficulty in a country.
• Need to have good computer skills to save time - A CBT has time constraints. Hence, computer proficiency is a must to get more out of the time allotted. Economically backward students maybe at a disadvantage if they do not have access to personal computers at home. Such students should practice exams available online at public/ college libraries and cyber cafes.
• Lack of access to computers - In India remote areas fail to have access to the internet or even a computer. This is a major drawback of a CBT and puts students from these areas at a disadvantage.
• Calculation issues - The CAT requires numerous calculations which are difficult to accomplish with a CBT. However, test makers format the pattern to deal with this issue.

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