Dec 30, 2008
Dec 20, 2008
CAT calling: 59,000 to take test from NCR
Manash Pratim Gohain I TNN
New Delhi: Come November 16, and the common admission test (CAT) will see a new high with around 2.7 lakh aspirants taking one of the ‘globally-acclaimed toughest entrance-test’. In the NCR alone, over 50,000 students will be appearing for the test to get into one of their favourite B-schools.
According to CAT committee sources, there has been a 23 percent increase in the total number of applications filled this year. However, the number will come down substantially after the screening of applications. Satish Deodhar, a faculty member at IIM, Ahmedabad, and member, CAT committee, said: “We have received over 2.9 lakh applications, of which over 2.7 lakh would be receiving the admit cards for the exams, which will be around 70,000 more then that of last year.”
Delhi region, which falls under IIM Lucknow, is handling 59,000. According to IIM Lucknow sources, the NCR region would be having 55 to 60 centres. IIM Ahmedabad is handling over 51,000 applicants, while its Bangalore counterpart is handling over 60,000 applicants and IIM Kolkata would be taking care of over 50,000. Apart from the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs), this year 118 other B-schools would accept CAT score for admission for the academic session of 2009-2010. NCR tops the list with 34 B-schools.
CAT, an examination known to throw up surprises every year, would be a two-andhalf-hour exam. For the last two years, it tested aspirants with 75 questions, divided into three sections. And most coaching classes are not taking any chances of predicting the unpredictable. IIM-Kolkata alumnus, Deekshant, director of MBA Guru said: “In all probability, the pattern would remain the same — with three sections and around 75 questions. Not too much of variations in numbers, but yes we can see variations in the toughness of the questions. Last year, the English section was tough. So we might see a relatively easy English section.”
However, Parvesh Bansal from Tata Consultancy Services and an aspirant this year disagrees. He said: “English is still going to be the toughest this year as well as CAT is trying to get into the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) mode and get online. In online tests, they can’t really make the quantitative section tough.”
With the paper setters in the past have repeatedly said that the aim of the exam is to search for genuine talent and, therefore, the surprise element, Ulhas Vairagkar, director, TIME, Delhi, said: “Our advice remains unchanged. Don’t go with a fixed mindset, whether in terms of number of question or structure of questions. Also doing well in CAT has nothing to with the number of questions.”
Coaching institutes are now gearing up students mentally for the defining moment. And they are taking different approach in doing so. “This year, we have conducted a large number of revision workshops. Based on our past experience, we have found that now more and more students start preparing early and may lose focus. So they need a lot of revision. Unlike in the past, almost 50 per cent of aspirants come to us with prior preparations,” said Vairagkar.
With just over 10 days left, students are being prepared to face the exams on a positive note. “One should go for the exams with lot of positive attitude and, therefore, we are holding motivational sessions like screening of films like Pursuit of Happyness to remove the fear of failure,” said Deekshant.
And most students are taking mock CATs. Ankit B Jethani, a final-year student of BBE from DU said: “With just a few days left, we (friends) are taking our mock CATs. Mocks are tougher than the original CAT, so it gives us a lot of confidence. Of the 75 questions, if we can attempt at least 10 in each section, that would be the key.”
manash.gohain@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: Come November 16, and the common admission test (CAT) will see a new high with around 2.7 lakh aspirants taking one of the ‘globally-acclaimed toughest entrance-test’. In the NCR alone, over 50,000 students will be appearing for the test to get into one of their favourite B-schools.
According to CAT committee sources, there has been a 23 percent increase in the total number of applications filled this year. However, the number will come down substantially after the screening of applications. Satish Deodhar, a faculty member at IIM, Ahmedabad, and member, CAT committee, said: “We have received over 2.9 lakh applications, of which over 2.7 lakh would be receiving the admit cards for the exams, which will be around 70,000 more then that of last year.”
Delhi region, which falls under IIM Lucknow, is handling 59,000. According to IIM Lucknow sources, the NCR region would be having 55 to 60 centres. IIM Ahmedabad is handling over 51,000 applicants, while its Bangalore counterpart is handling over 60,000 applicants and IIM Kolkata would be taking care of over 50,000. Apart from the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs), this year 118 other B-schools would accept CAT score for admission for the academic session of 2009-2010. NCR tops the list with 34 B-schools.
CAT, an examination known to throw up surprises every year, would be a two-andhalf-hour exam. For the last two years, it tested aspirants with 75 questions, divided into three sections. And most coaching classes are not taking any chances of predicting the unpredictable. IIM-Kolkata alumnus, Deekshant, director of MBA Guru said: “In all probability, the pattern would remain the same — with three sections and around 75 questions. Not too much of variations in numbers, but yes we can see variations in the toughness of the questions. Last year, the English section was tough. So we might see a relatively easy English section.”
However, Parvesh Bansal from Tata Consultancy Services and an aspirant this year disagrees. He said: “English is still going to be the toughest this year as well as CAT is trying to get into the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) mode and get online. In online tests, they can’t really make the quantitative section tough.”
With the paper setters in the past have repeatedly said that the aim of the exam is to search for genuine talent and, therefore, the surprise element, Ulhas Vairagkar, director, TIME, Delhi, said: “Our advice remains unchanged. Don’t go with a fixed mindset, whether in terms of number of question or structure of questions. Also doing well in CAT has nothing to with the number of questions.”
Coaching institutes are now gearing up students mentally for the defining moment. And they are taking different approach in doing so. “This year, we have conducted a large number of revision workshops. Based on our past experience, we have found that now more and more students start preparing early and may lose focus. So they need a lot of revision. Unlike in the past, almost 50 per cent of aspirants come to us with prior preparations,” said Vairagkar.
With just over 10 days left, students are being prepared to face the exams on a positive note. “One should go for the exams with lot of positive attitude and, therefore, we are holding motivational sessions like screening of films like Pursuit of Happyness to remove the fear of failure,” said Deekshant.
And most students are taking mock CATs. Ankit B Jethani, a final-year student of BBE from DU said: “With just a few days left, we (friends) are taking our mock CATs. Mocks are tougher than the original CAT, so it gives us a lot of confidence. Of the 75 questions, if we can attempt at least 10 in each section, that would be the key.”
manash.gohain@timesgroup.com
CAT: Expect the unexpected, Variations Are Random With One Section Tougher Than Others; For Times of India
Manash Pratim Gohain I TNN
New Delhi: Unpredictability is the only prediction for the Common Admission Test (CAT) as over 2.76 lakh students are all set to sweat it out on November 16 to get a place in the top B-schools of the country. There will be over 54,000 female candidates taking the test this year. Over 118 Bschools would accept CAT scores this year. And no one is hazarding a guess as to what surprise is in store in this edition of CAT.
However, before the trends, here is what CAT-2008 looks like in numbers in comparison to 2007. In comparison to 2.3 lakh applicants in 2007, 2.85 lakh applicants have been accepted this year. According to Satish Deodhar, member CAT committee, “Close to 3 lakh forms were sold for 2008. While 2 lakh wrote the test last year, it would be 76,000 more this year.”
The exam, scheduled to start at 10.30 am, would have three sections and would be of two-andhalf-hour duration. According to sources from IIM Bangalore, CAT would be conducted from IIM Bangalore this year. On condition of anonymity, a faculty of IIM Kolkata, said: “The trend has been a special surprise after a threeyear interval. Going by that trend in 2006 and 2007, the number of questions remained 75 and English remained comparatively the toughest section and so we can expect a new variation this year.”
However, neither faculty members nor aspirants are going with a fixed mindset as CAT is known to turn all strategies upside down. Deekshant of MBA Guru said: “It would be foolish to predict anything. Variations have been random and the only consistency we have seen is that in last five years the test has been tough and getting tougher as the number of questions are coming down. Earlier, it was speed based, now it is more of testing your managerial skills, rather than your knowledge.”
In last five years (2002 to 2007), the variations have been random with one section being the toughest, much more so than others. In 2002 and 2003, the English section has been the easiest. From 2003 to 2005, data analysis was comparatively the toughest, while in 2006 and 2007, English became the nightmare.
Then there were variations in the number of questions, with the only consistency being that since 2002 it has seen a gradual decline in the number of question asked. In 2002, the paper had 150 questions. In 2003 and 2004 there were 123 questions, which came down to 90 in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 there were only 75 questions, which is fairly similar to what GMAT adheres to, giving rise to speculations about CAT going the GMAT way.
While the number of question remained the same in 2003 and 2004 and so also the toughness of the section on data analysis, CAT sprang a surprise by bifurcating the paper into sections A and B. Section A contained questions worth half and one mark each, while section B had question worth two marks each. Does that leave much option to guess as to what it would be like this time? Rajiv Kumar, an aspirant said: “Why hazard a guess? CAT is not for guess work. And that’s where the fun of the game is.”
Agrees Asha Kaul, professor, IIM Ahmedabad, “I don’t want to comment on what CAT would be like. Yes, it has been the toughest challenge for those aspiring to pursue MBA from the best institutes in India and I feel it would maintain that status. And except for those setting the paper, no one has actually been able to anticipate what surprise CAT will throw up. Only those with the right attitude can crack this exam.”
Ulhas Vairagkar, director, TIME, Delhi, said: “Don’t worry about the surprise element. Just do your best. Even if one attempts 40 to 45 questions and even if seven to 10 of those are incorrect, even then there is a huge probability of getting a good percentile and a call from a good B-school.”
manash.gohain@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: Unpredictability is the only prediction for the Common Admission Test (CAT) as over 2.76 lakh students are all set to sweat it out on November 16 to get a place in the top B-schools of the country. There will be over 54,000 female candidates taking the test this year. Over 118 Bschools would accept CAT scores this year. And no one is hazarding a guess as to what surprise is in store in this edition of CAT.
However, before the trends, here is what CAT-2008 looks like in numbers in comparison to 2007. In comparison to 2.3 lakh applicants in 2007, 2.85 lakh applicants have been accepted this year. According to Satish Deodhar, member CAT committee, “Close to 3 lakh forms were sold for 2008. While 2 lakh wrote the test last year, it would be 76,000 more this year.”
The exam, scheduled to start at 10.30 am, would have three sections and would be of two-andhalf-hour duration. According to sources from IIM Bangalore, CAT would be conducted from IIM Bangalore this year. On condition of anonymity, a faculty of IIM Kolkata, said: “The trend has been a special surprise after a threeyear interval. Going by that trend in 2006 and 2007, the number of questions remained 75 and English remained comparatively the toughest section and so we can expect a new variation this year.”
However, neither faculty members nor aspirants are going with a fixed mindset as CAT is known to turn all strategies upside down. Deekshant of MBA Guru said: “It would be foolish to predict anything. Variations have been random and the only consistency we have seen is that in last five years the test has been tough and getting tougher as the number of questions are coming down. Earlier, it was speed based, now it is more of testing your managerial skills, rather than your knowledge.”
In last five years (2002 to 2007), the variations have been random with one section being the toughest, much more so than others. In 2002 and 2003, the English section has been the easiest. From 2003 to 2005, data analysis was comparatively the toughest, while in 2006 and 2007, English became the nightmare.
Then there were variations in the number of questions, with the only consistency being that since 2002 it has seen a gradual decline in the number of question asked. In 2002, the paper had 150 questions. In 2003 and 2004 there were 123 questions, which came down to 90 in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 there were only 75 questions, which is fairly similar to what GMAT adheres to, giving rise to speculations about CAT going the GMAT way.
While the number of question remained the same in 2003 and 2004 and so also the toughness of the section on data analysis, CAT sprang a surprise by bifurcating the paper into sections A and B. Section A contained questions worth half and one mark each, while section B had question worth two marks each. Does that leave much option to guess as to what it would be like this time? Rajiv Kumar, an aspirant said: “Why hazard a guess? CAT is not for guess work. And that’s where the fun of the game is.”
Agrees Asha Kaul, professor, IIM Ahmedabad, “I don’t want to comment on what CAT would be like. Yes, it has been the toughest challenge for those aspiring to pursue MBA from the best institutes in India and I feel it would maintain that status. And except for those setting the paper, no one has actually been able to anticipate what surprise CAT will throw up. Only those with the right attitude can crack this exam.”
Ulhas Vairagkar, director, TIME, Delhi, said: “Don’t worry about the surprise element. Just do your best. Even if one attempts 40 to 45 questions and even if seven to 10 of those are incorrect, even then there is a huge probability of getting a good percentile and a call from a good B-school.”
manash.gohain@timesgroup.com
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