SAS : Student Zone

CAT 2008 Analysis – Consistent with the tradition of surprise

2010-07-15T23:25:00.001-07:00

Well, Well. Well!! The big event is over and I must say it did not disappoint any of us, at least our expectation that it would throw at least some surprise, some twist, the CAT kept up with its habit.

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

Cat-2009

2010-07-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

CAT 2009 is the Entrance test for gaining admission into top B-schools of India.

Those who are preparing to study in any of the reputed MBA institutes in India, they are well aware of the Common Admission Test, better known as CAT. CAT is a test held annually for the admission to the Post-graduate diploma and Fellow Programs in management courses of several top management institutes in India. The USP for CAT is the IIMS. CAT is a written examination organized by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and it is on the basis of CAT result that the eligible candidates are short listed and called for a Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

CAT is considered to be a major requirement for a candidate seeking admission to the prestigious management institutes of India. The percentile secured in CAT is assessed by the B-Schools in India for short-listing candidates for admissions to their various MBA Programs.

CAT has become one of the most competitive exams to judge the potential of the candidates willing to pursue their career in business administration.

CAT 2009 Eligibility Criteria:

For applying to the CAT 2009, a candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in case of candidates belonging to SC/ ST or Persons with Disability], of any of the Universities or Institutes recognized by the UGC or the Ministry of HRD, Government of India. The Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification obtained by the candidate must be of minimum three years duration after completing Higher Secondary schooling (10+2) or equivalent. Candidates in their final year of graduation/ equivalent qualification and those who have completed the exams and are awaiting results are also eligible for the CAT 2009. They must produce a certificate from the Principal / Head of the Department/ Registrar/ Director of the University / Institution certifying that he / she is currently in the final year awaiting final results.

Obtaning the CAT 2009 Application Form:
The Common Admission Test application form and the bulletin can be obtained from the selected branches of Axis Bank on payment of Rs. 1300/- (Rs. 650/- for SC/ST candidates). Under exceptional circumstances, CAT 2009 application form and bulletin can also be obtained from any of the IIMs by sending a crossed demand draft of Rs. 1300/- (Rs. 650/- for SC/ST candidates) drawn in favor of the respective IIM. Request for the bulletin should be accompanied by a cloth lined self-addressed unstamped envelope of 12” x 10”. Please note that the prices are indicative and might differ from that mentioned in the CAT 2009 notification.

CAT 2009 Results:

CAT 2009 results would be available from somewhere around January 2010. CAT 2009 results can be accessed on www.catiim.in and also by using sms facility or by sending a mail. SMS should be sent to 57333 after inserting ‘CAT test registration number date of birth (dd mm yy)’ or ‘CAT test registration number application number”. For getting CAT 2008 results by e-mail, candidates should register themselves between October 17, 2008 and November 30, 2008 by sending an SMS to 57333 with the following text: ‘CAT test registration number date of birth (dd mm yy) email identification.

CAT Preparation MBA Learning Centers

The MBA learning centers groom the students by providing them with the necessary study materials and making them aware of the mistakes to be avoided during the CAT exam. They also take Mock Tests to evaluate the potential of the students and give them the feedback. Some of these learning centers are -

SHARPMINDS
T.I.M.E
Career Launcher
Top Careers and You
Prime Tutor
Bulls Eye IGNOU Tutor
Planetetutors

CAT Papers Pattern

The CAT question paper usually has four different segments, namely, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Problem Solving and Data Interpretation. These multiple choices questions and are required to be answered only with a HB pencil on a computer coded OMR answer sheet (CAT 2009 might not be Online!!!). For each incorrect answer you get negative marks. Every year, the IIMs are known to change the question pattern to prevent predictability for the CAT exam. Prospective students should therefore have a deeper understanding of concepts and their applications to succeed in the CAT. It is to be noted that you have to perform well in all the three sections of the CAT as the test evaluates the overall aptitude of the student.

The number of candidates appearing for CAT every year seems to be growing steadily and the online method would prove to be successful in terms of the vast number of IIM aspirants appearing every year. The year 2007 saw about 2,30,000 students writing the CAT test and in 2008 the more than 3,00,000 (source: business standard) aspirants appeared for the CAT. It is believed that the IIM is planning to outsource the project to an IT firm specializing in education and training services though the IIMs hold complete control of setting the question papers. If everything workd out well then the CAT may go online in 2009.

Cracking the CAT 2009 – Strategy

1. The accuracy or strike rate
While each correct answer was awarded 4 positive mark, each incorrect question carried a penalty of 1 mark. Hence, it is important to get a strike rate of over 85% – that is reduce the number of negatives. Though speed is important, in a paper like CAT 2006 paucity of time was not one of the primary factors that determimed success. Most students found the time provided to be adequate. What set the winners apart was the accuracy.

2. Smart Selection
As it is clear that you will not be generally able to attempt all 300 marks question, and you skip between 25 to 30 questions, the key to success lies in selecting questions properly. Hence, it is important to remember that there are no kudos, nobel prizes or awards waiting for attempting the tough questions. Be smart in choosing, the easiest of the questions and the ones that you have practised a lot and get them right. Do not venture into unsafe territories. Essentially, do not try any question about which you only have a vague idea.

CAT and entrance tests of other top B Schools are a unique breed of entrance exams. They focus on testing some of the basic qualities essential for managers – the grit to work hard, smartness to choose the best alternative, quick thinking and above all perseverance.

Exams like IIT JEE test the depth of your knowledge, while the Civil Services exams test your width of knowledge. CAT evaluates your presence of mind and the ability to perform under pressure. You cannot prepare for CAT during the last 10 days, as one generally does for college semester exams. A minimum of 3 to 9 months of regular preparation is recommended however there have been cases where aspirants have cleared the CAT with excellent percentiles without any formal preparation.

This is an indicative information. For the exact information Candidates and Students will have to wait for the formal announcement for CAT 2009 by the organising institute.

How to Prepare = Cat

2010-07-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

I would like to recommend you to spend at least 5 hours a day for the ultimate preparation.

Concerned tasks for CAT preparation

Preparing Maths
Preparing Data Interpretation
Preparing Analytical reasoning
Preparing Reading comprehension
Preparing Verbal ability
word list
Reading

There are two phases of preparation

First phase:

In this phase you should get good grip on fundamentals and get familiar with all chapters and problems . Do not look for speed solving or feel any sort of pressure while preparing fundamentals. Learn with your own efficiency, without getting into fundamentals clearly speed-solving is not useful. Please manage to allocate at least one hour a day for reading newspapers, magazines. It is better to subscribe for any good magazines during the preparation. Get in touch with current affairs.

I request you to schedule your weeks to prepare accordingly because haphazardness will waste lot of time. If you have been preparing without any study structure then whatever you may achieve would have been increased up to 50%. Try to shuffle the subjects also, so that you do not get bored with one subject. A good time table for 1 days look like below:

Day 1:

1 hour reading

2 hours of math

1 hour of analytical reasoning / data interpretation

1 hour of reading comprehension exercises / verbal ability

second phase(self analyzing and improving):

By the time you finish the fundamentals which is about second week of august, you will get a fare idea on the area of your weakness and strengths. Make a tabular form of topics categorizing strengths and weakness to have a clear picture on it. Keep weak areas in mind and try to improve yourself by focusing them more.

From second week of August you can take section tests along with revision of topics in alternate day ,here if you think you have to allocate more time you should do.. You must start taking comprehensive tests by the beginning of September.

Things you look to learn in comprehensive tests of 2-3 hour long, is how to manage paper so the attitude here should be the same like a batsman who wants to score as many runs as possible in the last 10 overs in onedayers. You should think of scoring as much as possible ,but most people will get emotional to have a challenging problem and stuck up solving only that problem.

After you tested yourself spend time to analyze it. The key points to analyze your test:

Speed: see if your speed is better than previous tests, notice if you do not understand basics you cannot apply them to tougher problems. Both these attributes are a prerequisite for speed solving;
Concentration
Most of we do not use two hours sitting at a stretch; a high degree of concentration is also not easy for first time test takers. Comprehensive tests make us to sit for two hours at a stretch and we increase our attentive span.
Time Management
The most important value provided by the comprehensive test is an idea of our strengths and weakness. So you should manage time and allocate certain time to each section depending on your strength and weakness
accuracy : accuracy is the number of correct questions out of attempted questions. if this is low you need to go and revise the chapters which are reducing your accuracy because marking wrong option will impose negative marks in cat
finding traps :you should avoid false positives or false negatives i.e., you shouldn’t leave easy questions thinking they are hard and attempt hard questions thinking they are easy.
analyzing your progress on the above four : compare with the previous attempted paper on above all points

Take comprehensive test for yourself on every alternate days with analyzing and revision of topics on another day,

Some institutes also conduct all India mock test on weekends please try to give as many mocks as possible you can.

Try to attempt at least 30 comprehensive tests (including all India mocks)

Finally give yourself a break on every weekend to relax and start fresh from the following Monday.

How to Get a Dream score in GMAT:-”GMAT Preparation Guide”

2010-07-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

“I know the title is a bit ostentatious, but then it’s a cruel world out here on the web. So keeping in mind the search engine, I couldn’t get more creative than this. Trust me, I tried a lot, but names were just not available. For the stranger who had rambled on to this page; it’s my humble attempt to share someexperiences which I am hopeful will help better your score in the GMAT. Enjoy!!”GMAT Preparation Guide…A Detailed Schedule for Two Months….PART I

Hey there!! Nice to be blogging after so long! Thanks a lot for all the nice words through comments/emails/scraps. Makes me happy! So the reason I am writing yet another post is that many of you guys thought that a step-by-step preparation chart would be of great help! So here is my humble attempt at it.

There are certain things I would like to assume here:

You have atleast 2 months before actually taking the GMAT. (I don’t have to say that more is better) You are willing to spend atleast 2.5 hrs daily.

On weekends you have 6 hrs to devote.

You have all the resources. (books and tests)

You have a good study table, good lighting and peaceful place.

You want to crack it big time!

Books you’ll need :

OG 11/10

Kaplan Basic guide/Princeton Basic guide

Kaplan Verbal Workbook

Manhattan SC

Maths Workbook : Kaplan/Manhattan/Princeton/OG

Kaplan 800

Additionally you can have Verbal by OG/Princeton

Test CDs from GMAT, Kaplan, Princeton (and any other you can lay your hands on)

OK!! So lets start!

============== WEEK ONE ================

Day 1 (Preferably on a weekend):

1. Arrange all the books on your table. Get a bundle of blank sheets for all the rough work. Get one diary/journal to keep a daily log of your scores. And use your notebook (thin) for taking down all the notes while you are learning. Get a pen (not a pencil), preferably black ink, and a sketch pen to make charts. Also get a tiny bundle of post-its and a white and a black chart paper.

2. Read all you can about the GMAT exam on the official website and the introduction part of any of the GMAT guide (Kaplan or Princeton). Educate yourself about the CAT methodology of the test. Look at the different types of questions that come on the GMAT. See how each section looks like. Familiarise yourself!!

3. Finally take a diagnostic and feel good even if you didn’t do well. Take a break and think how was it! Go over the analysis section and see what was the toughest/easiest section.

Day 2 :

Take up the Kaplan Basic guide and finish off the CR section. (Theory, examples and exercise + analysis). Do the rough work on the blank sheets and write down the answers in the diary/journal with a proper date, heading, book’s name + Section name. Finally write down the score and the accuracy percentage.

Analyse each answer with utmost care and keep jotting down any stuff which you have learnt (there has to plenty of them). Make a habit of taking down notes. On the post-its write down all the silly mistakes you did and stick them on the black chart paper which you should stick to the wall infront of you.

Day 3 :

Follow the same thing for SC.

Day 4 :

Ditto for Problem solving.

Day 5 :

Ditto for DS.

Day 6 :

RC…same routine.

Day 7 :

Finish off the AWA section and take the paper based test at the end of the book. Analyze all the answers. Go through the explanations. Make notes. Write down the silly mistakes on the post-its. Also write down your experiences after you took your first test. Look back at your week. Feel good that you finished one book completely and one test.

SUMMARY:

So this week was a glimpse of what your weeks should look like…productive! Many people would feel that its a bit tough to follow this kind of schedule. But hey! Who said it was going to be easy. I don’t believe in insincerity, laziness and doing things without passion. I believe that GMAT is the first step in your enedeavour. Its better to crack it on the first go rather than crying later after you have screwed it up. If you can’t find time, do one thing: write down all the things you do in a day, for a week. Spot items which you can sacifice, like going to a movie, chatting, watching TV or going out just like that. I am sure you can take out 2-3 hrs daily for this. If you feel you still don’t have time, you can schedule it for three months and stretch the schedule by 1.5 times. But be honest to yourself. Good luck!

============== WEEK TWO ================

From now onwards, your every session should be timed. This week we’ll attack SC and PS. I would suggest you to have Kaplan Verbal Workout, Manhattan SC and OG.

Daily log keeping is mandatory. All the rough work on the sheets. Take notes after each exercise while analysing or reading the theory section. Make post-its for the annoyances.

Day 8 :

Go through chapters on 3 C’s, Subject Verb Agreement, Tense, Mood & Voice (1, 2 and 3) from Manhattan. Do the exercise.

Day 9 :

Go through chapters on Pronouns and Modifiers from Manhattan (4 & 5).

Finish chapter 2 (SC) from Verbal workout. Do the practice questions.

Day 10 :

Finish Parallelism from Manhattan (6).

Do practice set 1 & 2 of SC from Verbal Workout.

Day 11 :

Open the Maths section from the Workbook you have. Finish the theory part and go through the formulae. Do the practice exercise.

Finish the chapter on Comparisons and Idioms from Manhattan.

Do the practice set 3 from verbal workout.

Day 12 :

Do the practice sets for PS from whichever book you are following.

Finish off Manhattan. Revise all the theory. Go thorough your notes.

Go through any other SC material you have.

Day 13 :

Take out your white chart. Make a section for SC on it. Count the number of sums in your OG for SC. Divide it by 50 and make as many blocks besides SC. I followed OG 10 (which I recommend). There would be 6-7 blocks. Paste it on your wall.

Take out the OG. Do the first 50 questions at a stretch. (1:30 hrs)

Against each answer option you write, you should write the keyword for it. And you should check how many are you able to spot correctly. Analyze the answers, go through explanations, make a note of errors/mistakes you did…basically try to minimise wrongs for your next session. If you have any doubt in any of the explanation, go back to Manhattan to clarify it as much as possible.

Day 14 :

Do the next 50 questions SC from OG. (1:30 hrs)

Do 50 questions from PS from OG as well. (1:30 hrs)

Analyze. Learn formulae, theory…and revise everything (3 hrs)

SUMMARY :

So you have finished Mahattan SC. Great! You have also crossed out two blocks for SC on the white sheet. And one block for PS.

============== WEEK THREE ================

This week we’ll target CR and finish off the remaining questions for PS from OG and Workbook.

You will have 6 blocks for CR OG. 35 questions each. So we’ll target finshing these six blocks, each a day. And I recommend doing 500 questions for PS and DS each. So this week we’ll finish 5 blocks (=250 questions) for PS. Excited!! Lets start!

Day 15:

Take out Verbal Workbook and go through the theory and practice exercise. Thats it for today. Rest of the stuff (analysis, log keeping) will not be told again and again. That should become a habit. Every session has to be well documented.

Day 16:

Finish the practice set 1. Then 1 block from OG for CR.

Day 17:

Finish 1 block from OG CR and PS.

Day 18:

1 block from CR OG and practice set 2 from Verbal workbook.

Day 19 :

1 block CR OG and PS.

Day 20 :

1 block CR OG and practice set 3. 1 block of PS.

Day 21 :

1 block of CR OG and 2 block PS

SUMMARY :

You should be quite comfortable with CR, SC and PS by now. If you are able to match up with this schedule, you are doing great. Three good weeks. We’ll target RC and DS in the next week. So one month would be over. And you would have finished Manhattan, Verbal Workbook, Maths Workbook and OG.!! Next month it’ll be redoing the OG the smarter way, Kaplan 800 (the next step), making notes, and taking lots tests!!

============== WEEK FOUR ================

This week we’ll target RC (from OG and Workbook) and DS (from OG and Workbook).

You will have 6 blocks for RC OG. 35 questions each. So we’ll target finshing these six blocks, each a day.

Day 22:

Take out Verbal Workbook and go through the theory and practice exercise for Reading Comprehension. Thats it for today. Rest of the stuff (analysis, log keeping). Document your session.

Day 23:

Finish the practice set 1. Then 1 block from OG for RC.

Day 24:

Finish 1 block from OG CR and

Day 25:

1 block from CR OG and practice set 2 from Verbal workbook.

Day 26 :

1 block RC OG and DS.

Day 27 :

1 block RC OG and practice set 3. 1 block of DS.

Day 28 :

1 block of RC OG and 2 block DS

SUMMARY :

Let’s look Back at the last month We have finished OG completely. Your Verbal Accuracy at this stage is expected to be above 80% assuming you have done all the analysis and log keeping religiously. The next month is going to be rigorous. This month we’ll target doing Kaplan 800, Redoing the OG and taking as many tests as possible. So get ready!! It’s going to be fun.

And one more thing…I am sure some of you will be able to achieve the targets set in this schedule and the rest of the junta can just sit back and complain that it is a tough schedule and come up with excuses as to why it didn’t work out for them.

All the best…keep checking out the site for updates on this post. You can subscribe.

GMAT Preparation Guide … A Detailed Schedule for Two Months….PART II

So here we meet again!!! So you have completed one month of prepping and now you are ready for the next step!!!

This is gonna be super awesome…you know why?? Simply because this month we will go to the next level of serious prepping (not that you can afford not to be serious in the first month ). This month we will target Kaplan 800, redo the OG and take as many tests as possible. And then you can happily go and crack the GMAT !

A small summary will help at this point of time. Last two weeks…test marathon (including sectional tests). First two weeks will be devoted to finish the kaplan 800, redo the Tough+Medium OG questions and revise your notes.

============== WEEK FIVE ================

Day 29 :

Arrange all the new books on your table. Pick up Kaplan 800. Start RC section. And finish it from start to end. Make notes, grids and all the jazz I have mentioned earlier. Make Flashcards for RC tricks and tips and stick it!

Day 30 :

Ditto for PS.

Day 31 :

Ditto for SC.

Day 32 :

Ditto for CR. But but but…also take out the AWA document I have provided. And go through it.

Day 33 :

Today also we will do CR and AWA. MAke notes from the AWA document and learn them by heart. Write two sets of AWA essays, i.e. 4 essays (2 argument and 2 issue)

Day 34 :

Start DS. And finish it from start to end. Make notes, grids and all the jazz I have mentioned earlier. Make Flashcards for DS and tips and stick it!

Day 35 :

Revise everything. Do the questions again which you missed the first time. Or if you have any confusion, just get it clarified.

SUMMARY :

So this week you finished the toughest book in stores for GMAT. Feel good and satisfied. Go through all the new things you learnt and revise your notes. Analyse whats going good/bad with your prep. How much more you need to put in. Things like that. ATB.

============== WEEK SIX ================

Day 36 :

Take out your OG grid and OG. Make a list (or get out the print out) of all the questions you did wrong on the first go (Last month when you did the OG) for all the sections.

Then take the SC section and side-by-side open the SC section of the Kaplan 800 for reference. Then solve the questions from that list. And hey here I am assuming you will at max get 100 questions wrong and so you should be able to do it in one day. If your work pressure is too much, then do something about it. No one can help you with that except yourself!

Day 37 : Do the same thing for the CR section.

Day 38 : Do the same thing for the RC section.

Day 39 : Do the same thing for the PS section.

Day 40 : Do the same thing for the DS section.

Day 41 : Write 3 sets of essays for AWA section. Take help from the AWA doc.

Day 42 o whatever you want to. Take a chill pill. Sit down on a chair facing the window and in your mind go through all the SC rules in your mind. Think about the fallacies. Revise the formulae in your mind. Basically make a mental map of all the stuff you have gone through.

SUMMARY :

So this week you revised and learnt from all your mistakes and gotten ready for the ultimate two weeks before the actual GMAT.

============== WEEK SEVEN ================

Day 43 : Get your laptop/machine…preferably with a mouse. Collect your test materials…CDs and sit down with all your concentration. Its going to be long and better be prepared for it. And simply start. One test a day!

Day 44 : –do–

Day 45 : –do–

Day 46 : –do–

Day 47 : –do–

Day 48 : –do–

Day 49 :–do–

SUMMARY :

So basically you take a test each day and analyze it properly. Track your mistakes…not repeat them. Revise your formulae sheet.

============== WEEK EIGHT ================

Same as last week. After 14 tests just chill and go take the test….

I would recommend you to take the tests in the proper order. See my post on test strategies.

Bhaskar Anand

Tips to Crack CAT 2009

2010-07-15T23:18:00.001-07:00

With just about a fortnight remaining for the D-day, the anxieties of students who will take the CAT this year will be on a high. The long nights and days of hard work will finally be put to test soon. So what should be the ideal strategy for these final days?

Get motivated to perform! Start feeling good about your preparation. You have slogged for this for long now. Think about your dream, about how you started, why you started, and what you wanted to achieve. This will give you the required fuel to get going for this last lap.
Identify the apt frequency of test taking for you. So while somebody may be comfortable with taking a full-length test in a week, others may be fine with three full-length tests a week. Do not over-stress on taking tests. However, you should be comfortable sitting for a 2.5 hour test with full concentration. The revision and analysis part is more important. Maintaining the same level of concentration for a period of 150 minutes is in itself a challenge. We suggest you practice yoga or meditation techniques so that you can remain focused for the entire duration.
Do make it a point to go through the last few years’ CAT papers. Analyse on the trends and the kind of questions that have appeared in previous years’ papers. So there may be topics which have a higher probability of coming again, compared to other topics.
Identify the type of questions which you are good at. Revise them so well that chances of making a mistake in those questions are minimised. In the last few months, it is only strengths, strengths and strengths. Nothing else! Do it so thoroughly that there’s no scope for error.
Try to devote equal time to all sections. Don’t give undue weightage to one section in terms of time because the other sections are going to suffer. If you make that mistake, you will not be able to clear the cut-offs.
Even in this last lap, continue with the good habits you started with. You still need to read a lot. Read anything and everything you can lay your hands on. Read into diverse topics and, most importantly, read to enjoy!

At this stage, do not worry about topics that you have not been very confident with. Glance idly, but don’t scrutinize through fundamental books. Do not worry about the sections that appear to be completely alien. You really don’t need to study them now.

Start thinking about a strategy. Do not try to formulate a very rigid strategy though. Critically analyze your areas of strengths – the particular set of topics which you seldom get wrong in mock tests.

Also identify the areas you are not so comfortable with. Try
to think
of a flow chart on the order of questions you will attempt on the day of the test. However, it is always advisable to experiment with your strategies for different tests.
Do not go too hard on testing yourself. Take sectional tests once in every two or three days for each of the sections. Take used tests if you feel like, but answer those questions which you did not attempt the first time. Take a full-length test once a week in addition to the mock tests. Also a substantial amount of your time should go into analyzing the full-length test. The strategy you formulate will be strongly dependent on how well you analyze these tests.
Choose questions wisely. One of the keys to success is picking the right questions to answer. Remember, CAT is more a test of making smart choices than that of in-depth knowledge.
Stay calm and relaxed. Sleep properly, watch movies, and spend some time in the playground. Do anything and everything you like doing. This will calm your mind and provide the required positive energy. Do not think too much about the test. Take it as any other test of your life! At the end of the day, remember CAT is not the end of the world. After CAT, there are going to be other institutes’ exams also. Maintain a work-life balance. A 14-hour schedule won’t work. You will sleep off in the exam hall. Don’t spend so much time studying that you are cut off from the rest of the world.

Will introduction of online Cat prove a curse or a blessing !

2010-07-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

I agree to the fact that definately it would be a blessing /boom for the aspirants .Online tests will definitely increase the reach of exams like CAT as it will enable more students to take the exam.There is no possibility of question papers leaking asstringent security is maintained in those areas.The chances of hacking are remote. The system is more transparent and error proof. The computer will select questions for a large set of questions and this will make the system more efficient. Also The number of students who write the CAT is very high.

Processing the data is extremely difficult. It will definitely help students that the test is held over several days. The fact that it is online will also help tech savvy youngsters. In today’s world, a majority of the youngsters are computer literate. I don’t think students living in urban areas will get better scores.
It is too early to say if there will be a change in fee. It won’t make CAT more affordable.Students will have more time as they won’t have to darken the bubbles. They can answer the question with a click of the mouse. The time pattern will change. The reach of the exam might increase, but it does not make the exam tougher.Some people might have doubts about the connectivity issue. But it will not be a problem at all. Centres will be located only in those places that have good connectivity.
There are chances that CAT may emerge as an international test like GMAT as there are no geographical barriers. Students from any part of the world can take the test. Different sets of question papers, all equally tough, will be distributed for different days. No such thing has happened with GMAT, so there are few chances of it happening with CAT.

There is no need to panic about the new format. The test is meant to judge the relative competence of students. It is true that the comprehensive passage analysis might get tougher. But a student can tackle it with practice. GMAT also follows the same pattern. Students can take the tests according to their convenience. The scores received by students who take it continuously remains relatively the same.

CAT : PROMETRIC INDIA , PROMETRIC CAT

2010-07-15T23:15:00.000-07:00

The world of change had got the official voice.Prometric, the world’s leading provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment services announced that it has been awarded an exclusive, $40 million dollar contract by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) to computerize the prestigious Common Admissions Test (CAT).To efficiently deliver the first ever computerized version of the exam to over 250,000 Indian students this fall, Prometric will accelerate plans to further build out its people, services and technology infrastructure in India.In assuming responsibility for all aspects of the CAT program, including item authoring, test development, test administration and scoring and reporting services, Prometric will add resources, including dedicated test development and support staff, in India.

Complementing the 185 employees, test center network and other assets Prometric already operates in India, these additional new resources will provide a more powerful and rigorous means for the CAT, and any other test publishers looking at expansion in India, to leverage for growth.The CAT is the premiere admissions test used in the selection process for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), a network of India’s most prestigious business schools based in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow and Shillong.

Of the 250,000 students that take the exam each year, ultimately just over 1,500 are admitted to one of the IIMs. It is therefore one of the most competitive and high profile admission exam administrations in the world, requiring tight execution and secure exam delivery.It is the first time in history, that instead of testing only one day a year,D-DAY will be able to test during a 10-day testing window across 23 Indian cities where secure computer-based testing centers specially prepared for the CAT exam are strategically positioned throughout the country.

The longer window and wider availability will provide candidates greater flexibility when choosing a testing date, time or location as well as near-ubiquitous access to testing locations.In addition, computerization of the CAT will result in faster score processing, enabling the IIMs and more than a hundred other Indian business schools that rely on the results to more quickly make their admissions decisions.

Online Format : Drag the RAT & Bell the CAT

2010-07-15T23:13:00.001-07:00

After much speculation, on April 28, IIM officials confirmed that CAT 2009 would go online. After a three year of tradition of being held as a written test on paper, to secure admissions to the Post-Graduate Programme in management at seven IIMs in the country, this move heralds the next generation of tech savvy. Officials at IIM-B say that they welcome the move as it is in the right direction. They can now handle the growing number of CAT applicants, maintain the quality at test centres and the environment with utmost ease. The test will be conducted over a span of 10 days at the end of the year

The test would also be cost effective because students will not have to shell out for facilities like test centers. Computerization will also improve the security process, make for a better physical environment and test-taking experience. In terms of security, biometric identification of candidates and video monitoring will help boost the CAT’s foray into the online medium. Prometric, ETS, the organisation which conducts GRE and TOEFL tests will partner with the IIMs to deliver the computerised CAT.

Only a few days after the announcement of the IIMs that CAT would go online,hundreds of students are wondering .Though the kind of question paper for the computer based test (CBT) is yet to be decided, it is clear that the candidates may not be able to see the entire question paper at once. Students wonder whether it will be a computer adaptive test or just a computer test. The difference In the adaptive method,is that if a student answers a question right, then the next question has a higher level of difficulty. If the student’s answer is wrong, then the next question is of a lower level of difficulty. This is similar to the pattern of GMAT. However, in a computer test, it will be a simple computer-based format. The questions do not vary depending on the answers. Here are a few challenges that students will face in the online method -

Those who have already begun their CAT preparation need to de-learn a little.The average time per question will increase.

CAT 2009 might be Verbal Section Centered taking into account past stats. Candidate’s verbal skills must be a strength area for a high percentile.New RCs, new approach, no more can a candidate surf through all questions before looking at the RC’s content. The questions coming one by one. Moreover, there is ZERO possibility of underlining the keywords in the passage. No option but to jot down the keywords, topic sentences and inferential information in the passages on to a paper to answer the questions in time.Old DI with new challenges – managing the large amount of data in the DI section without any option of writing or underlining key information on the screen itself will prove to be a challenge.

Tips for cracking CAT

2010-07-15T23:12:00.000-07:00

Starting off: Analyse the areas where you need to work. Prepare a schedule that ensures that you study 2-3 hours every day six days a week and stick to it.For engineers: Start by working on your English. Read books with difficult prose. Look at RCs from GRE, GMAT and SAT. Work on improving your vocabulary. You can start Maths around March. Focus on understanding concepts rather than on mugging formulae.If you wish to prepare via distance learning, Testfunda.com has an online course with an integrated Ask-a-doubt facility which enables you to study at your convenience. GMAT: If you have prepared for CAT, you do not need any extra preparation for GMAT but you will need to give online tests for practice. The IIMs are not biased for or against work experience. Therefore if you do not have any work experience you need not worry provided you are young. However if you are 25-26 years old and have not been working after your graduation then that can prove to be quite harmful.

For working professionals: Make CAT preparation a part of your morning routine. Working has its advantages. It is easier to access a vocabulary site online and to read non-fiction passages. Photocopy one or two exercise pages and keep it on your table while working.

Preparing for group discussions

Importance of practice:

To avoid nervousness and anxiety, practice a lot. Candidates usually panic because they feel the panelists or the moderators are out to get them. That is far from the truth. Feel positive for them and you will automatically begin to relax.

How to practice:

Start by initiating discussions amongst friends, become a little aggressive with them and move on to discussions with strangers. Reading from books loudly will help you with your tone. You do not have to shout but a slightly higher tone has a better chance of being heard.

How to get a chance to speak:

The noise level in GDs has a pattern — there are peaks and troughs. If a GD gets too noisy, try and enter during the troughs. It takes some practice but learn to enter at the troughs.If you do not understand a GD topic, wait for someone in your group to start. Pick up from what the group is discussing. You could also try and become the de facto leader of the group by summarising the discussion at regular intervals and providing a new direction from time to time.Do not read simply for the sake of learning facts. Form opinions with justifications and apply them in practice GDs.

How to do well in the IIM-

A written assignment:-IIM-A introduced a written assignment in place of the GD last year. The topic is given to students and they have 10 minutes to write on it. Ten minutes is not a lot of time to cover all perspectives but what is crucial in making a good impression on the panelists is your coherence and consistency in presenting some aspects in your essay. Marshall your thoughts before you start writing; pick one or two points which you think are important, cover them coherently and with grammatically correct English and you should do fine.

Accent :- is not as important as the content and the presentation. Ensure that you speak without grammatical errors and know your content. Regular practice will make your accent fall into place.

Current affairs:-Topics of common knowledge that you should be familiar with are the global recession, sub-prime, Obama’s victory etc.

How to tackle case studies:

First identify the problem and then try and ascertain whether it is part of a bigger problem. Come up with a few possible solutions. Remember, always advocate an ethical solution. The Mckinsey site, Harvard and MIT sites are a good repository for case studies.

Preparing for personal interviews

Academic questions: Questions on academics are often asked of candidates with less than one year of working experience. Know the basics of every subject and work on one or two subjects extensively. Know your curriculum well.

Answering ‘Why do I want to do an MBA’:

There is no ideal answer. It depends on your background. Answer why an MBA education makes sense with your long term goals, combined with your work experience and your academics. How you believe in the concept of learning throughout your life etc. If you can come up with something honest and unique then your chances of making a good impression will increase exponentially.

Answering ‘Tell me something about yourself’:

Avoid repeating from your resume. Lead the interviewer into an area that you are comfortable with in your academics or in your work experience. What has shaped you as a person? Do not mention facts. Your answers should be self explanatory. For example mentioning that you play cricket might seem irrelevant but mentioning how playing the game made you appreciate the importance of team work would make it self explanatory.

Preparation:

Do a lot of soul searching for PIs. Along with academics and your work experience you should work hard on your personal questions. Avoid lying as the interviewers are quite good in detecting inconsistencies in your statements. You could ask your friends to describe you in three words and flesh out the words. Get feedback from your seniors or your boss. Try and get some mock interviews from experienced people in your field.

Gate-2010

2010-07-15T23:09:00.002-07:00

Gate GATEway to a high-tech career It is literally a gateway to higher education and a promising career in engineering. Eligibility criteria A master’s degree in any branch of science or M.Sc. in Mathematics. Students in the final or pre-final year of these programmes are also eligible. A bachelor’s degree in engineering/technology/architecture/pharmacy would also suffice. Candidates in the final or pre-final year may also apply.

Candidates in the second year or above of the B.Sc. four-year Integrated Master’s Degree Programme, or in the third year (or above) of the five-year Integrated Master’s Degree Programme in engineering/technology. Candidates with professional qualification equivalent to BE/B.Tech. through a UPSC/AICTE-recognised examination. GATE exam The examination is a single paper of three-hour duration of the objective type.

Negative marking is adopted for some questions in the paper. The results of qualifying candidates will be ranked on an all-India basis and indicate a percentile score. A percentile score of 99 means one is in the top one per cent category of the candidates who appeared for GATE. Candidates who get less than 70 percentile get no score card.GATE scores are valid for 2 years. One can reappear for the GATE exam if one is not satisfied with the earlier score. The new score (if better than the old one) will be used for admission.

Students have to apply to individual institutes and get application forms after the GATE results are out. M.Tech. course admission details are advertised in leading newspapers from April 1 till July end. However, some institutes do not advertise and students should approach them directly for the forms. The concerned institute may conduct a written test and/or interview for admission. Students of M.Tech. are paid scholarships by the Government of India for the entire 18-month period. Importance of coaching Dr. Gokhale, who had been secretary, GATE examinations for 1997-98, notes that the examination is widely recognised in industrial and academic circles.

He observes there were many coaching Institutes in cities like Hyderabad and Chennai.Coaching was necessary, according to a former principal of a private engineering college. “The Chemical Engineering Department at the Government Engineering College, Kozhikode, offers coaching to students now as a small initiative,” says Prof. V.K. Sasikumar, Head, Chemical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College, West Hill, Kozhikode. However, experts advocate preparing for GATE by practising the old question papers following the time limits strictly, since time management in GATE is also crucial.

Also practising the questions helps one to familiarise oneself with the GATE exam pattern. Some institutes have recently started conducting separate written tests or interviews or both for PG admissions, apart from considering GATE scores. Importance of PGDr.Gokhale observes that even a student who has completed B.Tech. at a State engineering college can look forward to doing M.Tech. in a more reputed institute like an IIT or NIT by taking GATE and thus increase his value in the job market.

Prof. R. Sreedharan, who has been monitoring admissions, including M.Tech., at NIT-C over the years, observes that some of the students of self-financing engineering colleges outside Kerala try to get into an IIT or NIT by cracking GATE. R&D institutions Prof. Sasikumar says that with India becoming the hub of research and development (R&D) activities and many companies abroad outsourcing these activities to Indian research institutions like CSIR, M.Tech. students have a big chance to grab more opportunities in the research sector where a PG degree carries weight.

Dr.Gokhale points out that after the 9\11 attacks in the U.S., a slump in the IT market had re-oriented the engineering students towards higher studies. With opportunities galore in the R&D and other sectors, taking the GATE is increasingly becoming the preferred option for students. Unlike their seniors who kept going back to academics after a few years’ work, present-day students prefer to complete higher studies at a younger age as they set for themselves ambitious career goals. The next GATE exam is on,

GATE- Graduate aptitude Test in Engineering

2010-07-15T23:09:00.001-07:00

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all-India examination administered and conducted in eight zones across the country by the GATE Committee comprising faculty from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordinating Board – GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India.

Many students are not aware that several institutions in India offer specialized postgraduate programmes in various disciplines. Attractive scholarship / Assistantship for postgraduate courses in engineering / Technology / Architecture /Pharmacy at Engineering colleges / institutes in the country, are available to those who qualify through GATE. Some Engineering colleges / institutes specify GATE as a mandatory qualification even for admission of students to post graduate programmes.

The aspirant is required to find out the procedure of final selection and about the scholarship / Assistantship from the respective Institution to which the candidate seeks admission. GATE qualified candidates in Engineering will also be eligible for the award of junior research fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. Objective To identify meritorious and motivated candidates for admission to Post Graduate Programmes in Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Pharmacy at the National level. To serve as benchmark for normalisation of the Undergraduate Engineering Education in the country. Why should we take GATE: M.Tech degree leads to specialization and furthering of interest in a certain area which may lead to Ph.D M.Tech degree is best for those wishing to apply for Faculty/Research positions in educational Institutes/R&D centers.

Gate forms are available from October, 1st week onwards. Last Date for filling up forms is November, 1st week Exam Date is on the 2nd Sunday of February Results are out in mid march March.

The examination is a single paper of 3 hours duration and generally consists of Section A (Objective Type) which is of 75 marks and Section B (Problem Type) which is of 75 marks. Total: 150 marks. One has to opt for one’s subject and study as per the syllabus mentioned in the GATE brochure. The subjects of our interest are Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering., Electrical Engineering and Instrumentation Engineering.

Other subjects are also available such as Mathematics, Physics, etc. Results of qualified candidates in GATE will be an All India Rank and indicate percentile score. For example, a percentile score of 99 means you are in the top 1% category of the candidates who appeared for GATE. Candidates who get less than 70 percentile get no score card. GATE scores are valid for 2 years. You may reappear the GATE exam if you are not satisfied with the earlier score and the new score (if better than the old one) will be used for admission purposes.

Once the GATE results are out, students must apply to individual Institutes to get their application forms. Institutes advertise M.Tech admissions in leading newspapers from 1st April till end July. However some Institutes do not advertise and therefore students have to get the forms themselves. In the application forms, you have to mention your GATE score alongwith other details. The concerned Institute may conduct written test and/or interview for the purpose of admission. General thumb rules: If your Gate score in Computer Science is 96 percentile or more then you can try for IITs, if between 85 – 96 percentile, then apply for top RECs, JADAVPUR, SHIBPUR, ROORKEE, etc. If less than 85, you have to look for appropriate institutes.

Scholarship: During the pursuit of M.Tech, you are paid a scholarship of Rs. 5000.00 per month by the Government of India. This amount is enough for living expenses including purchase of books, etc. The scholarship is paid for the entire 18 months M.Tech period.

We encourage 3rd year students to appear GATE along with Final Year students since: GATE score is valid for 2 years. The syllabus as required by GATE is generally over by 5th semester. Anyway, it will be a good try! If it is a bad score you can always try again.

Preparing CAT

2010-07-15T23:05:00.001-07:00

Preparing CAT-2010

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most talked about test among MBA pursuers in India. This test is conducted once in a year for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and other affiliated b-schools all over India.

When to start preparing for CAT 2010?

CAT is held in the month of November, and if one starts preparing now, one will have enough time to have a solid grounding on all the areas. But how much time is enough time? People often do ask this question, and are often confused as to how this time till CAT be utilized. It is important to do a Self Evaluation for CAT.At the outset, it is important to do a self evaluation. You must know your competency level in each of the sections of CAT. There are three sections in which the test is divided. Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency, and Verbal Ability (English). Everyone has a different level of competence in each of these sections. The best way to find the level of competence is to take the test. Take the previous years CAT paper, and try to solve it in the stipulated time. Be honest with yourself and try to solve as many as you can. Compute the score taking into consideration the negative markings if known. Then find out the cut-off for that test and evaluate your performance. Here is how

If you clear the cut-off: If you cleared the cut off in one or all sections, your half the task is done. About 2 months of practice and you could be through.
If you miss the cut off: If you miss the cut off by 3-8 marks, you will need some more practice in that section. About 5-6 weeks of grounding on basics and then another 5-6 weeks on mock tests should be enough. 15-20 hours a week should be enough for you. Impetus should be given on the sections you are not so comfortable in.
If you missed the cut off by 20% or more then you will require more time. A sincere effort of around 5-6 months will be required, with the last few weeks for mock CATs only. You should spend more time in learning the basics. Evaluate section-wise. If you scored less in Verbal, then while practicing you will have to spend more time in verbal than other sections. We will come to section-wise preparation in a while.
If you missed the cut off by more than half, you will have to work really hard, if you want to clear the CAT cut off. You will need to spend about 30-35 hours per week, for about 6-7 months, and about 5-6 weeks in the end for tests only. You will need to divide your time equally for each section. If you have more time, use it to your advantage. Start preparing as early as possible. Practice more and you will find that you are getting used to the questions more and more.
For students in college and first timers, re-evaluation is needed. May be this test was just a difficult one, so take another test and re-evaluate. If this was the first time you took a test like this, then prepare for a few days, refresh formulae and then take it again. For most of the candidates still in college, it?s a good idea to evaluate properly before coming to a conclusion on the time required for preparation.
For people with non engineering background, it is important to evaluate the DI/DS, and Quants section properly, while spending less time in Verbal.

How to start Preparing for CAT?

Once you go through this self evaluation, you will come to know your limits and capabilities and also an approximate time you will need for preparation. According to experts, 10-12 is the maximum one should spend for CAT preparation. If you are starting early, divide your time into phases.

The first phase, say 30% of the time should be spent in getting your basics right. Don?t focus too much on tests now. In areas where you are weak, start from the scratch. If you are weak in verbal, start reading, and make it a habit. This will be the time you should start learning new words. Over time you can improve and build a good vocabulary slowly. Also create notes of things you think will require re-visiting. Like formulae or short-cuts.
The next 30-40% of the time should be spent in preparing CAT specific things. Start listing out your weak points, make a list of questions you think you regularly falter at. Now focus on these select areas, and start giving sectional tests. Measure your performance over time by creating a small mark sheet. This way you would know where you need to concentrate more, and invest more time.
The last phase, (30% of total time you had kept), just before CAT should spend in giving mock tests. Take tests in a complete test environment, the way you would take the real test. It would be good if you take the test daily at the same time, at 10.30, to simulate the actual test. This makes your mind tuned to work and think at this time. This really helps.

How to do section-wise preparation?

The next step will be to find out how to prepare section wise. It is important to give appropriate time to each section for preparation. Let?s see what to do for each section.

Verbal Ability (VA): You will be tested in vocabulary, verbal reasoning, critical reasoning and grammar in this section. This is the most dreaded section for most CAT takers simple because of the level of uncertainty around this section. The level of difficulty and the number of questions vary from year to year. Here is an analysis on how the questions in this section varied from year to year.
(Year) (Total Questions) (Questions on VA)
2005 90 30
2006 75 25
2007 75 25
2008 90 40
Broadly the questions in this section can be divided into 4 sections. Let?s discuss in details how to prepare for these.
1. English Usage, Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary: For vocabulary, you need to follow a regular practice regime. To know how to improve your vocabulary read this article. For RC, you must be accustomed to read from a variety of subjects. We tend to read faster when we are familiar with a subject. So increase your familiarity with a lot of topics. This will widen your horizon, and you won?t feel that you haven?t read such article before. This would improve your speed, and accuracy as well, as you will be able to comprehend them easily.For reading comprehension, a good reading speed is also a must. This requires a lot of practice. Read the editorials of leading newspapers regularly, analyze them and note down the points and the new words that you learn. With one hour of practice per day for 7-8 weeks can do your RC skills a lot of good.
2. Paragraph Forming: You will be presented with four to six sentences in jumbled form. You are expected to arrange the sentences in such a manner that the sequence forms a coherent whole. To crack such questions, an understanding of sentence construction is essential. You should start reading extensively for mastering such problems. The more you read, the more you will understand how sentences are constructed. Read variety as well, and you will find complex sentences seem simple. Say 2-3 such tests per day for last 3-4 weeks before CAT. Analyze your answers properly. If you are wrong, try to understand why you are wrong.
3. Critical Reasoning: Critical Reasoning section is similar to the Reading Comprehension (RC) section, the difference being that the passage is comparatively small and all the questions asked are essentially inferential. Concentrate hard on what the author has to say, rather than the logical output of the passage. The best way to prepare for critical reasoning is to read a lot of magazines and newspapers, and practice hard. Most of the critical reasoning questions are difficult to comprehend in first attempt, so lot of practice and reading is required. In the beginning it might look like a difficult section, but a consistent effort every day could really make the difference. So start early.
4. Grammar: The grammar part is the easiest in this section. Those good in English wont find this very difficult. This is a good section to score quickly. If you find yourself lousy in grammar, consult a good book on English grammar. Read right from the start, and cover the basics. It would be good if you start early for this, and practice as many types of questions as possible before CAT.
Quantitative Ability (Quants): You will be tested in topics ranging from Number Theory, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration, Permutations and Combinations, Probability etc. You should start with the basics, revise the formulae, and practice hard. Many people just rely on short-cuts and quick-problem solving techniques for cracking this section. Note that such tricks are not always helpful. Working hard and practicing as much as you can is the only key to cracking Quants section. If you think you are a bit slow in quants, and you are scoring just about 50% of the cut-off required for CAT, you might require upto 6-7 months of regular practice to prepare for Quants. Here is how you could span you Quants preparation:
- Refresh your basics: Go back to your class 10 maths book, and take a look at the basics. You might have forgotten a lot of them. Make a note of the important formulae, for future reference, and practice questions from each topic. About 3-4 months will be required to revise and refresh all the concepts for this section.
- Take exhaustive Tests: Once you are confident of yourself, and fundamentals are clear, test yourself. Take sectional tests in Quants, and assess your score. Make notes of the areas you get score less, and try to improve upon. You should take as many tests as you can before CAT, so that you are used to all types of questions being asked. This should take 2 months.
- In the final 2-3 weeks of CAT, you should take more CAT-type tests, like full length mock tests, and focus more on accuracy.
DI/DS :Data Interpretation (DI) questions are based on some information like Table, Graphs, or Charts, based on which you will be asked to deduce further information. You will be tested on how quickly and correctly you can deduce the information required. This is another section which is very uncertain in CAT. A good score in this section depends on your calculation speed and your analytical abilities. Many calculations involved in DI are complex and often require high level of analytical ability. Also many of the times it requires just presence of mind, and right thinking.In Data Sufficiency (DS) you will be tested on how to reason quantitatively. You will not be asked to solve complex problems here, and neither will be the questions tough. They will just be tricky. Given a set of conditions, mostly 2 of them, you will need to find out whether either of them, both of them, or none of them is required to make a deduction. The questions in this section are based mostly on basic principles of mathematical topics, so it is important that you are thorough with these. And again, it goes without saying, a lot of practice is required to master DI/DS.

(Year)	(Total Questions)	(Questions on VA)
2005	90	30
2006	75	25
2007	75	25
2008	90	40

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CAT

When should I start preparing for CAT 2010? The earlier the better. I would say start now.
How much time should I invest for CAT 2010?This depends on the level of preparedness you have. Have you done your self-evaluation yet? Do a self evaluation, and then you will be able to understand for yourself how much time you need. In any case one doesn?t need more than10-12 months of serious preparation.
How many hours per day are required for preparing for CAT?This depends on a lot of factors. If you are a well prepared student, with clear fundamentals in all subjects, you might be able to crack the CAT in 6-8 weeks with just 1-2 hour of study per day. And if you are a first timer, and starting from the basics, you might require about 35-40 hours a week for 15-18 weeks.
Which coaching institute should I join for CAT? No coaching institute can guarantee you a IIM call. Only hard work is the key. But sometimes it?s necessary to get proper guidance and good study materials. If you do not need any of these, you need not join any coaching institute.
What is the eligibility for admission to IIMs and other B-Schools?For admission to IIMs, a bachelor degree is required (In any field). Students in final year may also apply for CAT, provided they submit the proof of the degree during admissions. For most IIMs and a lot of other B-Schools, 50 percent marks in degree level is a must.
What types of questions are asked in CAT?Surprisingly, the questions asked in CAT are very easy, and a 10th standard student also will be able to solve them. But solving them in the given time is important. Also a matter is the accuracy with which you solve them, while trying to solve maximum in the given time.
What if I donot get selected in CAT this year ?Do not lose heart. Might be that you did not do well on the day it mattered. You can use your preparation and take other tests as well. There are a lot of other good institutes, and you should consider them as well before starting all over again for next year.
What is the pattern of the CAT exam?The general pattern for CAT is a 3 section test. DI/DS, Quants and Verbal Ability (English). But the pattern may vary this year.
What is negative marking? How much is the negative marking in CAT ?Negative marking means, for wrong answers you will be penalized with some marks ie, some marks will be deducted for that question. The amount of negative marking may vary this year for CAT 2009. As per previous years CAT, on third to one fourth of the total marks of a question is deducted per wronf answer.
How important is my reading speed for Reading Comprehension (RC)?Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to reading speed. On an average you need to have a minimum reading speed of around 350 words per minute (wpm) to be able to score a good score in RC. If your speed is less than this, do not lose heart, with regular reading and practice, you could improve your reading speed.
Should I study all three sections daily or just one?You should study all three sections. Don?t forget, you need to clear the cut off in all these sections to get a call. Most of us have a tendency to spend more time in subjects we are already good at. This should be avoided.
What is a CAT affiliated b-school?If you take the CAT, and get a valid score, you could use this score for admission to other B-schools across India. These are called CAT affiliated schools as they accept CAT score as the initial screening criteria. You will have to apply to these schools separately. Depending on the school, you may have to go through the GD/PI process as well .For a list of b-schools that take CAT score, visit TODO.
Which books should I consult for CAT preparations?There are a lot of books available in the market for CAT preparations. Apart from books, you should focus more on test papers, both sectional and full length. Also you should consult a good grammar book for English usage and grammar section. Also keep a dictionary handy for quick reference. Also subscribe to and read as many newspapers,
Where can I find tips and tricks to crack CAT?Remember working hard is the only key to success. So work hard, Also you need to prepare smartly. A few tips are shared in this forum.

IIM-B catapulted itself to 6th rank in job market � SAS : Student Zone

2010-07-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Employers are making a beeline for IIM-B, as per global survey 2009. The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, (IIM-B) has registered itself among the top 10 preferred B-schools in the Asia Pacificregion. The QS Global top 200 business schools 2009 survey has put IIM-B at sixth position in the region.

IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM-Calcutta and ISB Hyderabad are at 11, 12 and 13th rank respectively. Many factors were considered in which four major areas are — quality of students, specialization, success of alumni and activities of alumni network.

The global survey has shown up interesting trends in gloomy times. Business schools in India are becoming a hub for employers as the country’s economic demand for professional managers has been increasing despite the recession. The report lists 200 business schools currently preferred by most international employers for hiring MBA graduates.

The report says that MBA employers around the world are targeting a broader selection of regionally strong B-schools from which to hire MBA graduates. This trend may be accelerated by the recessionary environment, even as overall MBA hiring numbers fall.

The pressure of globalization means that beyond the traditional MBA employers, there are growing number of regional MBA employers who may not have the budget to pay the salaries demanded by MBAs from elite schools. As a result, MBAs who are pro-active in their search and flexible in terms of salary expectations are expanding their horizon even in the time of recession, pointed out the survey.

Interestingly, B-schools in the Asia-Pacific region are stamping their authority in the MBA market. “In fact, the number of Asian and Australian schools in the QS global survey has increased from 10 in 2004 to 40 this year — a massive jump reflecting their growing status. It also reflects the importance of Asian recruitment amongst employers.

The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has the reputation to be the most exhaustive research on global B-schools. Its effort has been appreciated by Harvard and Wharton schools.

In the top 30 league, the Delhi University (22nd rank) figures for the first time and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (21 rank). The list consists — 72 schools in North America, 70 in Europe, 40 in Asia Pacific region, 12 in Latin America and 6 in Africa and West Asia.

CAT 2009 : GOES ONLINE

2010-07-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

The dream of hundreds of thousands of students aspiring to get into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will now be answering the Common Admission Test (CAT) online from this year onwards.The CAT, scores in which decide admission to the IIMs located in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow and Shillong, will now be a Computer Based Test (CBT), a statement issued by IIM-Bangalore said on Monday.

The CAT scores not only determine admission into the IIMs, but also to several other reputed management institutes. According to the statement, the test will be conducted in a window of about 10 days at the end of the year.The institutes claim that the computer based CAT will be candidate-friendly, flexible in the selection of test date, ease registration process, provide better physical environment and test experience, and enhanced security in terms of biometric identification of candidates and video monitoring.

But experts from training and coaching centres are worried about how this may affect the students’ preparation.While about 95,000 candidates took the CAT in 2003, the number rose to about 250,000 in 2008, indicating a whopping 163 percent rise.According to the IIMs, this has resulted in severe strain on the administrative system of the institutes to conduct the CAT in its existing format.

IIMs have been conducting CAT in paper-and-pencil format for the last 33 years. Ninety percent of those who appear for the CAT are estimated to be proficient in working on computers.The coaching centres are also troubled that the format of questions is still unclear.

Students will have to wait for clarifications as details about the computerised CAT will be available along with the CAT advertisement that will be released later this summer, the IIM-Bangalore statement said.