Monday, March 08, 2010

Open Question to Caterrorist: Prometric Boss

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/assessmentcat-fair-prometric/87787/on
American firm Prometric, which conducted the computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT), today sought to allay doubts raised over the credibility of the assessment of papers and said "fair and equal opportunity" was given to candidates to display their knowledge.
"How did you decide that every one was given a fair and equal opportunity? Will you be kind enough to enlighten us? Was anyone found guilty of cheating? Or by fair and equal opportunity you meant those who got less marks their marks were increased and for those with higher higher marks, it was decreased."
"We have reviewed the test scoring and we are completely confident that the results are appropriately distributed across the population, and that the test were performed well within international standards," Prometric Chief Operations Officer Charles Kernan told reporters here.
Despite repeated requests why are you shying away from sharing these international standards and their impact on the CAT scores?

The three-step CAT test development process includes calculation, equation and scaling of the raw scores and was conducted in alignment with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, the American firm said.
Now even a nursery class student knows this - we are asking how you equated the scores. And if you so confident gives us our actual scores.
The computer-based 'CAT-2009' in the first phase was marred by technical glitches from the very first day as students faced problems while logging on at centres in Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Bhopal.
Nearly 7,000 students had to take the test in January this year during the second phase. They could not take the exam in the first phase due to glitches that were attributed by the IIMs and Prometric to virus attacks and hardware problems.
"We take the blame for whatever happened. But, this is the first time in 31 years that the IIMs preferred the computer method. Even EVMs were criticised when they were introduced 10 years ago. Now, they are path-breaking," Prometric India Managing Director Soumitra Roy said.
Definitely EVMs are here to stay but do you think you have a single chance of staying here. I can go on and on but the best one is: IIMA director himself has said you guys faltered 'badly'.

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