Begin studying well ahead of time. Studying for the CAT is just like studying for another examination.  It needs to be done at a steady pace so that you can truly absorb and comprehend the materials. You can begin studying for the CAT months before you take it in order to prepare, though several weeks should be sufficient as well. Though the CAT mainly covers concepts that you are already familiar with, it is beneficial to relearn these concepts so that you truly master them.

In addition, studying well ahead of time helps your brain to store the information you are learning as “long-term memories,” whereas studying materials in a limited time span will only store that information as “short-term memories.” Long-term memories are more easily recalled and less liable to become confused or muddled, which is the type of memory you want to store your CAT testing information in. On the other hand, short-term memory is unreliable. It may only last for a few hours or days, and can disappear with the onslaught of stress. That is something no test-taker wants, because taking the CAT is stressful, so having your studying efforts disappear due to anxiety is never a good thing. For these reasons, strive to begin studying for the exam well ahead of time.

Although studying is important, be sure to still get plenty of sleep. It may be tempting to stay up late and study for the CAT instead of going to sleep, but this will actually prevent you from properly learning. Every day, your brain processes numerous tidbits of information from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep. Like a computer, your brain must “clear its cache” each night in order to allow more information to be absorbed the next day. It does so while you are sleeping, which is why getting a full seven to eight hours of sleep each night is imperative for academic success. While you sleep, your mind will sift through the information it acquired during the day and toss out irrelevant information and file away relevant information, just like emptying your computer’s recycle bin and defragging the hard drive. It also mulls over the problems you faced during the day, matching up correlating pieces of information. This is why sometimes you can suddenly find a solution to a problem that had perplexed you the day before. Without adequate sleep, your brain can become too bogged down with the day’s data and work slower. New information is also less likely to stick. Therefore, it is better to get plenty of rest than to attempt to trudge through sleepless nights of studying.

Finally, eat healthy and get your exercise. Having a healthy body means having a healthy mind. When you are feeling well, you are more likely to have successful study sessions than if you are feeling sick. In addition, eating healthy and partaking in regular physical activity will also lower your chances of falling ill around examination time, as well as lower your stress levels so that you can concentrate better.

These small things can all add up to make your CAT studying experience much more effective. And when it comes to doing well on the examination so that you may have a fighting chance to enter into a prestigious management program, every bit of effort counts.

About the author

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who writes on the topics of online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.

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Try to keep it to your top 3 for each category so that things don’t get out of hand – but please share which broad section or topic or chapter or equation, formula, identity amuse you the most.

You can also include topics like general knowledge which are not included in CAT but are part of some other MBA entrance examinations

So – What are your favorite topics and which are the ones you hate the most? -  Over to you!

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Duration and Pattern of CAT 2010

IIMs have announced that 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 will have quantitative, verbal, and logical & data interpretation sections. Therefore, there are a total of three sections in the test. There will be about 60 questions in the test.

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.

Sale of CAT 2010 vouchers

The CAT 2010 vouchers can be obtained from selected Axis Bank branches between Monday, 30 August – Monday, 27 September 2010 for Rs. 1400/- (Rs. 700/- for SC/ST candidates)

List of AXIS Bank branches to obtain the form

Source:  http://www.catiim.in/testduration_patterns.html

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So here I go. This is regarding the name of the website – QuickerMaths.com. As you might know, QuickerMaths.com is another website in educational sector which we own. The name is inspired by the name of the best mathematics books I have ever come across. This book helped me a lot in clearing CAT and reaching to IIM. The inspiration of creating an interactive platform (QuickerMaths.com) came from this book. As a token of appreciation and to do my bit today I will tell you about this book named -

Magical Book on Quicker Maths

Author: M. Tyra

About the book: The book will be a boon for the aspirants of today’s competitive exams irrespective of their background – whether they come from arts, science or commerce stream. Concepts have been clarified so well, that even if one is vaguely familiar with them as in the case of non-mathematics students, understanding will not be a problem. Direct formulae are beneficial for one and all. They save time and time is precious for everyone.

Must for Competitive Preparation

The book is profusely illustrated. Avoiding the temptation for haste and ending up with a cookbook, the author has put in two years of intensive effort and research. Ideas have been taken from available study material, number theory, readers’ suggestions and, finally Vedic mathematics.

Recently I purchased the latest edition of this book from Flipkart.com

Purchase Online – The list Price is Rs. 250; you get a Discount of 25% (Rs. 62) on Flipkart.com. So you get it for: Rs. 188 (incl. of all taxes)

Those who have already read this book please give your feedback to help others

Author: Vineet Patawari

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If you want a book on writing effective emails (my favorite) – click here

How to give your written communication an extra punch?

Some pointers to help you write hard-hitting business or personal documents:

• Time spent on planning your communications will pay dividends. Make a rough draft of what you want to write or say, so that you can experiment with various versions. Remember that language is important because the words you choose convey your attitudes as well as information.
• Get to the point from the beginning. Cut the small talk and make a good impression by being crisp and business-like. Documents that do not do this waste the readers’ time and may end up in the waste bin or ‘Recycle Bin’.
• Use straightforward language rather than jargon. People prefer to be treated as human beings, not computers! Technical language has its place, but it is impersonal and should be used only when necessary.
• Use sentences that are short and to the point, not sentences that ramble on and cannot quite decide what they want to say or how to say it – like this one!
• Steer clear of the passive voice, since it is an indirect way of speaking and creates distance between you and your audience or reader. For example, if you say, “We will attend to your order promptly,” that promotes more confidence than if you say, “Your order will be attended to soonest.” This lacks the personal touch and may give the impression that you do not want to accept responsibility for your work.
• It is very important that you think about the audience you are writing or speaking to and make a real effort to communicate with them.
• A basic issue that business people sometimes ignore is spelling. Incorrect spelling makes a poor impression. If you are unsure about the spelling of any words you have used it is worth the trouble of running a spell check on your computer. However, computer dictionaries are often limited and therefore many technical terms may still need to be checked manually.
• Correct grammar is as important as spelling. Some word processors now have grammar checkers that operate in the same way as spell checkers.
• Finally, always read carefully through a talk or letter to check for typographical and other errors. Are the facts and dates accurate? Reading aloud is a good idea, because you can hear how the communication sounds: the ear provides a cross-check for what the eye may have missed.

For improving your written communication you can consider ordering the book titled – The Business Letter Handbook (How to Write Effective Letters & Memos For Every Business Situation)

Click on the above link to get discount on MRP and free home delivery. I generally use this website to order books.

Author: Vineet Patawari

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Start preparing for CAT now

Hope this information is useful to you. You can email this post using the “Email This Post” Feature above the post.

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2. CAT 2010 Dates

A person dies and is about to enter Hell but then God is so kind that gave him an option. There are 2 doors one leads to Hell and the other to heaven.

There are 2 guards sitting next each door and one of them always tells lie and the other always tells the truth.

God gave the option to man to ask only one question and decide which is the Heavens door and if he can get in he will remain in Heaven for ever.

So now the question is what did the person asked to the guards ?

or, What if this question is posed to you in an interview? What will be your response?

Post your answer. Check out other’s views.

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10 common spelling mistakes

1. accept / except

INCORRECT: Please except this gift.
CORRECT: Please accept this gift.

Except, as a verb, means to exclude or leave out. As a preposition it means “with the exception of.” Accept means “to receive willingly.” For example: We visited every landmark except the Eiffel Tower. The school is accepting only those students who have had their shots; all others are excepted.

2. advice / advise

INCORRECT: He refused to take my advise.
CORRECT: He refused to take my advice.

Advise is a verb. The s has the sound of “z.” Advice is a noun. The c has the sound of “s.”

3. all right / alright

INCORRECT: He’s alright after his fall.
CORRECT: He’s all right after his fall.

Although arguments are advanced for the acceptance of the spelling, alright is still widely regarded as nonstandard. Careful writers avoid it.

4. effect / affect

INCORRECT: His death really effected me.
CORRECT: His death really affected me.

The most common use of effect is as a noun meaning “something produced by a cause.” The most common use of affect is as a transitive verb meaning “to act upon.” For example: The disease had a lasting effect on the child. The family’s lack of money affected his plans.

5. every day / everyday

INCORRECT: Dan walks the dog everyday at six p.m.
CORRECT: Dan walks the dog every day at six p.m.

Everyday is an adjective that means “daily.” Every day is a phrase that combines the adjective every with the noun day. For example: Walking the dog is an everyday occurrence. I practice the flute every day.

6. its / it’s

INCORRECT: Put the saw back in it’s place.
CORRECT: Put the saw back in its place.

It’s is a contraction that represents two words: it is. Its is a one-word third-person singular possessive adjective, like his. For example: The man lost his hat. The dog wagged its tail.

7. passed / past

INCORRECT: The car past the train.
CORRECT: The car passed the train.

Past is used as an adverb of place, or as a preposition. Passed is the past tense of the verb to pass. For example: The past few days have been hectic. The deadline has passed. He passed her the biscuits. The boys ran past the gate. As we stood in the doorway, the cat ran past.

8. quiet / quite

INCORRECT: We spent a quite evening reading.
CORRECT: We spent a quiet evening reading.

Quiet is an adjective meaning “marked by little or no activity.” Quite is an adverb meaning “to a considerable extent.” For example: The children are quite amiable today. Quiet can also be used as a noun. For example: We enjoyed the quiet by the lake. (The suffix “ness” should never be added to the abstract nouns quiet and calm.)

9. then / than

INCORRECT: I have more eggs then you.
CORRECT: I have more eggs than you.

Then is an adverb that indicates time. It can go anywhere in a sentence. For example: The man paused by the door and then entered. Then the noise started. As conjunction or preposition, than will always be followed by a noun or a pronoun. For example: I like Melville better than Hawthorne.

10. who’s / whose

INCORRECT: I don’t know who’s dog you’re talking about.
CORRECT: I don’t know whose dog you’re talking about.

Who’s is the contracted form of “who is.” Whose is the possessive adjective form of who. For example: Who’s your daddy? Whose car are we going in?

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After going through the post if you have any queries, you can write us at info@fireup.co.in

For any trade queries or bulk orders you can contact us on info@fireup.co.in

For individual orders, you can place your order directly on the website using our 100% safe payment gateway.  You can pay by Net Banking, Debit Cards and Credit Card, depositing Cheque or cash directly in our account.

Free Shipping – Shipping is free to any part of India. Typically it takes 3-4 days to get the CD after placing the order.

Number of CDs - Two (includes audio, video, pdf files, word docs, etc.)

Price – MRP of this CD module is Rs. 395

Discount – Currently we are providing 10% discount. So get it for Rs. 350 flat.

Content of Group Discussion CD

Please go through the exhaustive list of content of the FireUp’s Group Discussion module. We are sure the well researched topics will appeal you and make you realize how this CD could be a great investment for lifetime learning.

Chapter 1            Introduction to a Group Discussion

1. What is a Group Discussion?
2. Group Discussion Vs Debate
3. Objectives of Group Discussion
4. How Group Discussions are conducted?

Chapter 2            Preparation for Group Discussion

1. Types of Group Discussion

-          Normal Group Discussions

-          Case study (depicted with a animated video)

-          FireUp’s Recommendation on Case Study  (casestudyrecommendation.doc/pdf)

-          FireUp’s Case Study Analysis (casestudyanalysis.doc/pdf)

-          Role Play Video

-          FireUp’s Recommendation on Role Play (roleplayrecommendation.doc/pdf)

-          Group Tasks with Animated Examples

1. Types of Group Discussion Based on Start

Chapter 3            Two Real-Time Group Discussions

Group Discussion – Video -1 & 2

1. FireUp’s Recommendation of Group Discussions (recommendation1/2.doc/pdf)
2. FireUp’s Analysis of Group Discussions  (analysisgd1/2.doc/pdf)

Chapter 4            Two Real-Time Group Discussions

Group Discussion – Video -3 & 4

1. FireUp’s Recommendation of Group Discussions (recommendation3/4.doc/pdf)
2. FireUp’s Analysis of Group Discussions  (analysisgd3/4.doc/pdf)

Qualities Required for Cracking Group Discussion (qualities.doc/pdf)

Chapter 5            Evaluation Criteria

1. Macro Parameters of Evaluation
2. Micro Parameters of Evaluation

-          Success Mantras & FireUp Missiles of Mass Destruction

-          FireUp Missile – 1 with Audio Book

-          FireUp Missile 2 & 3

Dress Code for participants of Group Discussion Presented through Animated Stills

Chapter 6            Advanced understanding of Group Discussions  topics

1. Interruptions in a Group Discussion

-          Real Time Video Extracts representing important points

1. Common Mistakes in a Group Discussion

-          Real Time Video Extracts & Audio Books representing Common Mistakes

1. Do’s and Don’ts in a Group Discussion (dosanddonts.doc/pdf)

Suggested Group Discussion Topics

-          Suggested Group Discussion topics and explanation

(suggestedgroupdiscussiontopics.doc/pdf)

Group Discussion topics of previous years (previousyearsgd.doc/pdf)

Different Types of Group Discussion Topics (differenttypesgd.doc/pdf)

Conclusion of Group Discussion

The .doc/pdf file names given are in addition to the narration done by the experts in the CD

To order the CD now, go to Purchase Page or write us at info@fireup.co.in

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Number of days on which CAT will be conducted – 20 days

Examination window : October 27 to November 23

Major decisions which have been taken this time include increase in the number of days for conducting test — from 10 days to 20 days this year.

The IIMs have also decided to give the test centres a 15-day-time to test their system compatibility and at the same time ensuring that all those, who answer CAT helplines, managed by Prometric, are well versed in both English and Hindi. Technical breaks will also be given in between the CAT schedule, which will take place from October 27 to November 23 this year.

“Last year, for the first time the new system was introduced and we were not aware of the exact nature of the challenges that might surface. But after reviewing the complaints of last year, we have decided to make some changes aiming at better CAT-2010,” said Himanshu Rai, Chairman, Admission Cell at IIM-Lucknow.

The Common Admission Test or CAT will be held across 32 cities. Besides the eight IIMs, there are over 120 management schools registered with CAT that use the CAT score for admitting students. Click here for detailed CAT Syllabus

The number of testing centres and technology partners will be finalized by the end of this month and the IIMs are expected to publish the first advertisement for the test by end of August.

Sources:

Indian Express

Business Standard

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