Prometric, the U.S.-based testing service provider, which managed the CAT online tests for admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), has said it had taken a number of security measures to maintain complete integrity of the tests.
The IIMs had announced earlier this week that they will review the contract of the U.S. firm after large scale glitches in the first computer-based Common Admission Test.
“One of the most important measures taken was biometric validation of all the 2, 41,582 candidates. Photographs and fingerprints were collected from all the candidates when they arrived for taking the tests in 361 centres in 104 locations in 32 cities during the 10-day test,” David Meissner, vice president, Solutions Services, Prometric, told PTI in an email.
He said biometric data would eliminate serial examinees who appear for the tests for the sole purpose of memorizing questions to be used in preparing CAT question banks for sale.
At the interview stage, the same data would be used to identify and verify aspirants interviewed by the IIMs.
Security technology was extended to each and every test centre through video monitoring as well as capture of images of all aspirants.
The centres were scanned ahead of the examinations with all other non-CAT activity suspended until the examination schedule was completed, Mr. David said.
