Experience at CAT examination center...

Dear All,
Here I am going to share my experience of the most boring exam of my life. I will try to add all the points which can help you when you go to bell the CAT by your own.
I am Prakash and appeared in CAT exam on 30th Nov (2nd Session), belive me those initial 2 hrs were most boring hrs of my life.
I reached test center at 1:15 PM and was trying to enter into the buillding, but I had been instructed to wait outside along with other candidates waiting for the show starting at 1:30. At 1:30 I heard announcement to stand in a line , like other candidates I ran towards the building entrance and stood 5th in the queue :). Although, I was so happy to be one of the first candidtae to enter into the building, I didn't know what I am going to face after this. I met first level of security check and they checked the admit card, photo id then asked me to take out everything in my pocket (except wallet). They provided a separate pouch in which there were 2 coupons of same number and all valuables have been put into the pouch and handed back to me.
My test site was on the second floor , I have been asked to go to second floor after security check. It was 1:40 and I was in front of the room. I had water and visited restroom and was ready to enter into the room by 1:45. I was stopped by a security guard in front of the test lab and he asked me to show my pocket inside out then he took the pouch and gave me a copy of the coupon ( I was sure that my valuables are secured). in front of the test lab there was a prometric person checking every person's id and allowing them inside. I entered into the room and there was one more person to check my id (all togehter 3 levels of ID check). Then I have been allotted a seat. I went to the seat and sat there quietly. All seats were provided Prometric rules and regulations sheet, I was reading prometric rules in the mean time I have been called to give my finger prints and my picture was taken at one corner of the room.
Now I was done with all the formalities. I came back to my seat and sat there quietly. I looked at the computer screen and found it was blurred (so blurred that I had to switch the monitor off).I looked around and saw candidates are coming . It was 1:55 and I was watching candidates coming inside. It was 2:15 I was sitting in front of a dumb terminal nothing in my pocket except the passport which I carried. Believe me I read my passport 2 times (1st time in my life). I tried to lean on the desk and have a nap and I could spend 15 more minutes by doing this. Every minute seemed like a day to me. By any hook and crook I managed to waste 15 more minutes. Then I started thinking abt exam rules and there was nothing which could stop recalling me that once you enter, you are not allowed to go to restroom(toilet) unless your exam is over. I didn't want to remember this point but what to do - human nature. So finally I started feeling like I need to go to restroom and I was telling mself not to think abt it. It was 3:00 PM and suddenly I heard the proctor saying that whoever wants to go to restroom can go now. It was like a call from heaven and I rushed towards restroom.
I came back and proctor entered some ID and Password into the system and one screen with my photo and icons with 2 buttons to start the test and start the tutorial opened. I was allowed to read the tutorial and I read the tutorial. Screen was so blurred that I could hardly read anyhting, I asked the proctor and he told me to bear with the situation for 2 hrs , lol, I adjusted the screen by myself and now it was somewhat better.
Now we have been instructed to click on begin test button and we have been told a password. I entered the password and ist question was there in front of me. I couldn't believe that I was into the exam.
Exam Started
I looked at the first question and there were some numbers and a table at the left half of it and 3 questions (by scrolling I saw) at the right half of the screen. I figured out its a DI question and I decided I will go with Verbal first and sarted clicking on next button then I realized clicking 20 times and again coming back is not a good idea, so I started solving DI, anyways I had to solve DI at one point of time. Questions were lengthy but answers were simple. I managed DI and then I saw 21st question to get the correct sentence to complete the paragraph ( I was into verbal section). I started answering it fast and at the end of verbal section I had 3 passages. believe me topics were simple (2 out of 3) but they were lengthy. I never read that much about any civilization as much I read in the exam. Anyways I was happy that I managed time and I was left with 45 mins and 20 Maths question. I am very good at maths and I always become overconfident. Thats what happened when I saw the clock at the top right corner of the screen was showing 5 mins left , I was left with 7 Maths question + initial DI questions which I skipped. My love to Math was making me analyse the question and think different ways to solve the problem (overconfidence). When 2 mins were left my screen got hung and I asked proctor and he did something with my screen, then I could see my screen back. In this process I lost 15 secs. I am not sure but after that my clock started running so fast and within a moment I saw my test was over.
We have been asked to remain seated and then we have been called one by one for check out procedure. I came out of the exam center and had a headache. Now only I woke up to share my experience.
Important things to remmeber:
>>> While entering I saw one guy came with the xerox copy of his DL (generally in India we keep the xerox and laminated copy) , Please take a valid photo ID and if possible more than one IDs. He was not allowed into the test.
>>> I had my breakfast at 10 AM and then I didn't eat anything, I was havng issues while sitting in the exam because I was hungry. Eat something before you reach the center.
>>> You may have to sit in front of AC (blowing cold air), wear a dress which can take care of that kind of situation, you cant ask them to switch off the AC , as it will affect candidates sitting far from AC.
>>> You may get a system with blurred screen, try to adjust it and if you cant then ask them to change your seat.
>>> I saw chief officer allowing ppl without having valid ID proof ( I saw candidates coming with old exam admit card as photo id) Keep all the supporting documents duly signed by gazetted officer with you.
>>> I heard from my friends that they didn't have multiple questions in that same page while solving the passage and DI, I had them in the same page. I am not sure if different question papers are having different styles.
>>> There were 4 options and 60 questions in my question paper.
>>> Manage your time well.
I don't remember anything else, as soon as I get to know something more I will add that into this blog.
Thanks
Prakash