Aspirants of common admission test 2009, waiting for the remaining seven days of CAT’s 10-day schedule, were in for a pleasant surprise on Monday. As they surfed the web anxiously for news on whether they would be able to take the test without any glitches, Youtube threw up a video giving step by step instructions on the question paper pattern and the procedure at the exam centres. The video was uploaded by a test preparation company, Career Launcher.

“We have not put up any of the questions as such, and the video is only meant to assure candidates,” said Career Launcher director Shiv Kumar. Students who took the test on the first two days of the schedule have already been putting up the test pattern on blogs and other forums online. But, the authentication from a test preparation company gave the video further value, not to mention its dedication to “all those beloved people who made a great sacrifice by taking CAT on day 1.”

Students also vented their anger against IIMs in popular MBA forums. “When it comes to an exam that pretty much determines the future of lakhs of candidates, there is no room for experiment. IIMs have conducted exams second time when paper leaked in 2003. So just wait and watch”, writes a student.

The students were angry because even those who were able to take the test had issues with the software while answering specific questions or reviewing their answers. Some also experienced shut downs and system crashes during the test. The forum said, “Though there are genuine reasons for students who could not take the test to be concerned, there are more reasons for the students who were able take their exam to worry!”