Prometric, the testing agency entrusted with conducting the Common Admissions Test (CAT) today announced two companies — MeritTrac Services Pvt Ltd and Everonn Education Ltd — as its on-ground partners for CAT 2010. Both companies replace NIIT which participated in CAT 2009.
“Everonn is an existing test delivery partner of Prometrics IT certification business and MeritTrac has a good track record in conducting examinations in India,” Prometric told the media today.
“Both partners were selected after a thorough evaluation process based on their responses to our Request for Proposal. As experienced players in the testing industry, both MeritTrac and Everonn bring with them competency in testing logistics and manpower, thereby providing good synergy with Prometric. They will work closely with us for the preparation of testing venues, as well as the administration of the CAT 2010,” Prometric added.
Interestingly, barely nine months ago, MeritTrac was reported to be lobbying with the IIMs to replace Prometric as the CAT’s official testing agency, just in case the deal with Prometric went sour due to the mismanagement of CAT 2009. MeritTrac is the technology and delivery partner for the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET) — Gujarat’s principal entrance exam to state-level b-schools — which it has conducted with success.
MeritTrac’s CEO Madan Padaki and Professor Emeritus V Natarajan have also gone on record in January 2010’s Business Today recommending that the CAT switch to adaptive testing. However in the new arrangement, Prometric is clearly the boss and will formulate the testing methodology of the CAT 2010.