CAT Exam Goes Global From 2013 Onwards

Till date, it was the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM's) which had the authority to conduct CAT exams. But, from next year 2013, CAT (Common Admission Test) shall go global. Yes, CAT is now open to students from all over the world. Before it was only Indians who took up CAT exam.

From 2013 onwards, NRI's (Non-resident Indian's) and people of Indian Origin (PIO's) will also be allowed to appear for the exam. GMAT which was the only one exam which was the standard gateway for international students seeking admissions to IIM's. But now, it is CAT Competing with GMAT.

CAT shall cater to international students as well as foreign business schools from 2013. The Prometric India, the testing partner to conduct computer-based CAT examination for IIM's, will bear the responsibility to take the entrance exam to the global level.

The students of countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, and West Asia may also take up CAT as the international B-Schools of these countries wish to accept CAT scores for admission process. Previously, these international B-schools conducted their admissions mostly via GMAT.

A senior official of IIM said that the institutes were planning to make CAT global this October i.e. in 2012. Due to the cost issues, the institutes may make it global only next year. He also said that it is strategically important for CAT to go Global.

The details of CAT going global are not yet finalized. For instance, while GMAT exams can be taken five times a year and GMAT scores are valid for five years, it is still not clear as to how many times will CAT be conducts in an academic year and how long will its scores be valid.