We were all anxiously waiting for 28th November, and I will be lying if said that I was not shocked, shocked because though we had warned students at various forums to be prepared for initial minor glitches, administrative delays, more than expected time span for pre test formalities etc but not the major bottlenecks which a large number of students had to experience, test getting delayed for unduly long duration, getting cancelled, rescheduled and more.

But at the end of the day we were all very very hopeful that things would be smoother the next day. But tomorrow though a new day, 29th November reports left us dumbfounded, as the expectation from everyone was that the test which enjoys an iconic stature in Indian Education will be better managed. Having said that I have no doubt that CAT authorities will sort out these issues very very quickly.

For students who are scheduled to appear for the CAT over next 8 days there are important lessons to be learnt from the experiences of others in last couple of days.

1. Keep yourself informed but do not pay too much heed to what’s happening around keep your focus on your preparation and use the information that you are getting for accommodating such factors in your strategy.

2. Glitches are expected; prepare yourself mentally for that do not get overtly perturbed or distressed by these.

3. Prepare yourself for the worst i.e. you may miss out on giving the exam on your scheduled slot, be ready for rescheduling and consider it as a probability, plan alternate days; we believe CAT authorities are accommodating requests for changing the allotted rescheduled test slots.

4. Take heart in the fact that the level of question paper is relatively on the easier side as informed by students who have already taken the test and going by the principle or equity you can expect the similar level.

5. You know now that total number of questions are 60, QA section is relatively on easier side and DI/LR slightly on the trickier side, so plan your time accordingly

6. You are better prepared now as you know some of the don’ts like, a. “QUIT” is not to be touched unless you want to walk off b. to directly jump to a question use the “Review” grid rather than navigating using next button c. keep a count of your attempts on rough sheet as you do not see the indication on screen

7. The verdict is out “students who had not practiced enough on reliable computer based testing format are facing a lot of difficulties and challenges”, so prepare accordingly pick up that reliable computer based testing mock test software and practice EVEN NOW, till the last day.

8. There have been complaints that the test environment in someplace was also not adequate as it was noisy etc, I am sure CAT authorities have taken note of that and you may expect improvement there.

I would like to advise you again that do not get too distressed or overtly occupied with the negatives relating to problems being encountered in CAT Online exam, take only positives from there to be better prepared when your time comes.

Even for students who had to undergo the problems and their slots have been rescheduled, take it as a positive you have a better idea about what the test and testing environment has in store for you so you would be better prepared for the CAT now.

So all the best to all of you, I am sure tomorrow will be a new day and a brighter one too.

100Percentile Administrator

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Best of luck for the upcoming CAT 2009

Cheers

Administrator

Common Admission Test – popularly known as CAT, is one of the toughest management entrance examinations in India, conducted by the elite Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to 2-year full time Post Graduate Programs in Management. Apart from IIMs, there are other premier B-Schools in the country accepting CAT scores for admission to their respective management programs.

As per the advertisement released by the IIMs, CAT will be conducted during Saturday, 28 November 2009 – Monday, 7 December 2009. CAT is a pre-requisite for admission to various management programs offered by IIMs.

From this year onwards the CAT will be a Computer Based Test (CBT) and would be conducted at multiple centers across the country.

Eligibility

The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50 % marks or equivalent CGPA (45 % for candidates belonging to SC/ST or persons with Disability category) from a recognized university.

Candidates appearing for the Final year of Bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply provided they fulfill the eligibility criteria at the time of admission.

Test Pattern

At the test venue, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a scratch paper for calculations. After the test, candidate must leave the scratch paper at the desk. Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the testing room.

Duration of CAT

The duration of the test is 2 hours and 30 minutes including initial 15 minute tutorial. No breaks will be given during the test. The test consists of questions that evaluate a candidate’s quantitative, verbal, and logical & data interpretive abilities. Therefore, there are a total of three sections in the test. There will be about 60 to 70 questions in the test.

100Percentile’s CBT-CAT Preparatory Courses

 100Percentile’s CAT online test series are designed to help you maximize your potential and increase your test taking capability to finally succeed in the actual CAT. You can choose from the Different Courses available at 100Percentile. To get an insight into how effectively you can crack CBT-CAT, attempt 100Percentile’s Free Practice Tests.

How to buy CAT bulletin

From this year the CAT authority has introduced scratch-voucher instead of bulky CAT bulletin. A prospective candidate can buy a scratch-voucher from the designated bank branches. For list of designated branches of Axis Bank, visit the website www.catiim.in. 

List of Test Centres

Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Durgapur, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Kozhikode,  Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Patna, Pune Ranchi, Siliguri, and Varanasi.

Important Dates

CAT Advertisement: Sunday, 30 August 2009

Sale of CAT Vouchers: Wednesday, 9 September 2009 – Thursday, 1 October 2009

Registration for CAT 2009: Wednesday, 9 September 2009 – Thursday, 1 October 2009

CAT Test Dates: Saturday, 28 November 2009 – Monday, 7 December 2009

CAT Result: Friday, 22 January 2010 onwards

Rescheduling Window: Wednesday, 9 September 2009 – Thursday, 1 October 2009

Q3: Will the format of the test change?
Ans: The format of the test will remain more or less the same except that a candidate reads question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer.

Q4: Can I take the test from any computer?
Ans: No. A candidate will take the test only at designated test venues in about 30 cities across India. Detailed information will be provided in the CAT 2009 advertisement.

Q5: But how do I do rough-work and calculations while arriving at the answers?
Ans: At the test venue, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a writing pad with numbered pages for calculations. After the test, candidate must leave the pad including all the pages in it at the desk. Rough-work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet as nothing will be allowed to be taken inside the test hall.

Q6: When is the advertisement for CAT 2009 going to appear?
Ans: CAT Advertisement will appear in leading newspapers on Sunday, 30 August 2009.

Q7: Once the advertisement appears, is one expected to buy CAT bulletin from designated banks?
Ans: No. One does not have to buy a bulky CAT bulletin. We want to go paperless. A prospective candidate buys a scratch-voucher from the designated bank branches, and, later registers online for CAT 2009.

Q8: When does the sale of voucher start and end?
Ans: Sale of vouchers starts on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 at designated bank branches and their associate outlets. The sale ends on Thursday, 1 October 2009.

Q9: When and how do I register for CAT 2009 after buying the voucher?
Ans: Online registration for CAT 2009 will also begin on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 and end on Thursday, 1 October 2009. Instructions on access to online registration will be given in the voucher, and, detailed registration instructions will be on the CAT website.

Q10: How do I get my admit card for the test?
Ans: After you fill-in, review, and submit the registration information during online registration, you will receive an email containing your Admit Card.

Q11. Does that mean I need to have an E-mail account?
Ans: Yes, you must have a valid E-mail account throughout the selection process.

Q12: What do I need to bring at the time of test?
Ans: You must bring the printed copy of the admit card, one picture ID, and any other ID not necessarily with a picture. Do not bring any other material and personal belongings with you, for no personal belongings and materials will be allowed in test-hall.

Q13: When will CAT be held and can I choose a test date?
Ans: CAT will be held during the period Saturday, 28 November 2009 – Monday, 7 December 20009. Yes, you can choose a test date, session (morning/afternoon), and venue across thirty centres (cities) all over India, subject to availability.

Q14: Can I take CAT more than once during the testing window?
Ans: No, a candidate can register to take test only once during the CAT 2009 testing window. Admit cards and picture ids of the candidates will be checked, and candidate pictures and biometric information will also be captured at the test venue.

Q15: When is CAT 2009 result expected to be declared?
Ans: CAT 2009 results are expected to be declared by the end of January 2010. Exact date of result declaration will be informed at a later stage.

Source: www.catiim.in

The Common Admission Test (CAT) of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow, and Shillong is going to be a Computer Based Test (CBT) from this year onwards. The IIM Bangalore has issued a press release on this. Download the pdf version of the release by clicking on the link below:

Press Release on Computerized CAT – Click here to download pdf

Cheers
100Percentile Administrator

The online mode of the test will offer candidates a two-week window to take the test. Last year, AIMA had conducted a pilot project in seven cities. The dual mode was implemented in these cities. AIMA plans to outsource the test centres to colleges having the required technology and infrastructure.

“With the online mode, the cost of the test will rise, but whether this will be transferred to the candidates and by how much, is yet to be decided,” said V S Bejoy, director, Centre for Management Services, AIMA.

To subscribe 100Percentile’s online MAT Test series, click here

Source: Business Standard

Candidates who want to appear for the test can obtain MAT Bulletin and Application Form by post, by sending a Demand Draft of Rs.1050/- to AIMA-CMS, drawn in favour of “All India Management Association” payable at New Delhi alongwith two self-addressed slips/adhesive stickers. The request should be sent to The Manager-CMS, All India Management Association, Management House, 14, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

Candidates can also obtain MAT Bulletin and Application Form on cash payment of Rs 980/-(Nine Hundred Eighty only) at AIMA counter at Delhi (Tel:- 24653382), select Bank of Baroda (BoB) Branches, AIMA Nodal Centres and other outlets.

Important Dates of MAT (May 2009)

Last date of Availability of MAT Bulletin: 08 April 2009 (Wednesday)

Last date for Receipt of completed application form At AIMA, New Delhi: 11 April 2009 (Saturday)

MAT Exam: May 3, 2009 (Sunday)

Reporting Time: 9.15 AM; Test Time: 10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM

For  information on MAT Eligibility Criteria, Test Centres etc, click on this link – http://blog.100percentile.com/mba/?p=45#more-45

The CAT 2008 results can be checked at CATIIM website. To check your result, please click on the link given here… http://results.catiim.in/result/index.php. Please enter your “CAT 2008 TR no” and “application number” in the box provided to access the results.

Registered candidates can also receive an SMS of their results. The short-listed candidates will also get to see which IIMs they will be eligible for, on the CATIIM website itself.

The mega event, Common Admission Test (CAT) – 2008 was held successfully at more than 160 centers across the country on Sunday the 16th of November. Over 260,000 candidates appeared for the test to grab one of the 1,800-odd seats available in the seven IIMs.

As for the surprise, sure it was there, it surprised students and teachers alike as it followed some old trends which the pre-1998 papers had followed. The first surprise for the students was the number of questions. There were total of 90 questions distributed across three sections – Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, English Usage and Reading Comprehension, in contrast to 75 questions last year and year before that.

The second shocker was the higher weightage for Verbal Section. In fact the 15 additional questions were all in Verbal Ability section, which had 40 questions instead of 25, the other sections maintained status quo in terms of number of questions i.e. Quantitative Aptitude and Logical & Data Interpretation sections had 25 questions each.

If we talk about the difficulty level, most of us agree that the overall toughness of the paper was at best “Moderate”. The Quantitative Aptitude section was of a higher level of difficulty than the previous year. The LR questions were rather easier as compared to the DI questions. In Verbal Ability section questions were of Easy to Moderate level of difficulty.

Section wise Analysis:-

Quantitative Aptitude

The QA had total of 25 questions that covered topics viz. Numbers, Time, Speed and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Quadratic Equations, Progressions, Functions, Permutation and Combination, Plane Geometry and Mensuration. There were two Data Sufficiency (5 Options-Standard) based questions two LR based questions.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning 

The DI and LR section had 12 questions from Logical Reasoning and 13 questions from Data Interpretation. The LR questions were on Data Arrangement and Mathematical Reasoning. While the questions related to Bar Chart, Scatter Diagram, Table and Logic based DI constituted the DI part of this section. The LR questions were easier compared to the DI questions.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

The section had total 40 questions i.e. 20 questions on RC and 20 questions on English Usage and Verbal Ability. Most of the questions in this section were based on grammar, usage and vocabulary concepts. Complete the paragraph questions were rather confusing.

The VA had usual questions like Fill in the Blanks, correct usage etc. There were more grammar-based questions which involved identifying punctuation, spelling and logical errors etc. Similarly, the toughness of RC questions was moderate to tough. It had four passages: on Sociology, Language, History and Art respectively, all with 5 questions each. Overall the section was easy to tackle and it gave more chances to students to maximize their score.

Scheme of CAT’08

Total Number of Questions – 90
Total Time – 150 minutes
The Marking Scheme – +4 for each correct answer; -1 mark for each incorrect answer
Total Marks – 360
Numbers of Choices – 5
Number of sets Available – 4
Sectional Time Limit – There were four sections and there was no sectional time constraint.

Expected Cut-Offs

So that that , its time now to get out of the “CAT Mode” and start concentrating on other examinations .IIFT is knocking at the door and we wish all the aspirants “Good Luck and Success”!

Team, 100Percentile 

Useful Links

• CAT’2008 Answer Key
• CAT’2008 Questions & Solutions
• CAT Poll

First, about the last 24 hours

You must start the day in a relaxed manner and plan to do only one paper in the morning on the day before the CAT exam. During the rest of the day you MUST relax, spend time in taking rest, entertainment or light activities that relax you. It is important that you enter the exam hall in a fully relaxed state of body and mind. You must sleep for at least eight hours. It is necessary to keep yourself fresh and at the best of your performance. Have a light breakfast in the morning of the exam day; both an empty stomach and a heavy one are bad.

Preparation

Do not leave things for the day of the exam. Collect everything, such as, 3-4 sharpened pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, neatly kept in a pencil box. All this should be arranged a day before the exam. It will ease the pressure off you on the C-day. Find out about the location of your exam centre and get there at least 30 minutes before the reporting time. Getting late for the exam increases anxiety and is inexcusable.

Best frame of mind for the exam

What ever be the state of your preparation, good, bad or indifferent, do not let it affect your performance in the exam. It is best to give the exam in a relaxed frame of mind because both, worrying about the lack of preparation and overconfidence about good preparation, can harm you more than they help you. Be cool and write the exam as best as you can. Over the years it has been seen that there are people who have felt jittery about their preparation till the last moment but still have made it there. At the same time there have been others who have felt fully confident and still failed to make it. So, do not let the pressure get to you . Do your best and hope for the best. Take a few deep breaths or do yoga in the morning or whatever suits you. Also, avoid evaluating yourself till after the exam. Continuous evaluation takes your mind off the task at hand and is counterproductive. Time-management during the exam is of utmost importance.

OMR Sheet

Before starting to fill the OMR sheet you must read the instructions carefully so that you don’t make any mistakes and waste time later on.

Exam Strategy

By solving CAT papers you must have found out about your strengths and weaknesses by now . Therefore, capitalize on your strengths and solve the questions you know. The best strategy is to devote time to each section in proportion to the marks it carries. However, if you are better prepared for any one section, you may devote more time to it. Do not waste time in going through the paper to decide which questions to attempt in what order. Decide as you go along. You cannot afford to miss reading any question, so decide whether to attempt it or not while reading it. RC section is different. Go through the passages to get a feel of them and then decide which ones to attempt.

Paper milte hi bolo Aaaj maza ayega. It’s all in the approach.

Last 10 minutes of the CAT.

The last 10 minutes are the most crucial. Rather than wasting it in hopping from one section to the other, keep solving the questions from the section that you are on.

After coming out of the Exam Hall

Do not get caught in the vortex of others’ opinions. If you have done well, you will get the call. Otherwise, better luck next time. In either case worrying gets you nowhere. Sometimes even those who feel they haven’t done well get the call. So, don’t worry, be happy.

All the Best! Get cracking, may God be with you, now and forever.

Courtesy: PT Education