Entries Tagged 'CAT' ↓

CAT is the most important part of getting admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management. A good performance in CAT gives one a head start over the others, and often offsets other factors in the admission process.

The last week before CAT is crucial in terms of your mental preparedness on D-Day.
Do not exert yourself too much during this week. Spend no more than two or three hours per day on CAT preparation. Try to relax as much as possible. Losing sleep and your nerves at the last moment won’t really help as it is a mental game, after all!

D-DAY

If you are in the habit of using a stop watch, make sure that you start it as soon as you get the signal from the invigilator to start the test. There have been instances of students getting tensed on account of not starting their stop watches.

Be smart to choose, the easiest of the questions and the ones that you have practiced a lot and smash them. Do not venture into unsafe territories or to questions 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.

Give your best. Take the fear out of CAT. Clearing CAT is certainly not an elusive dream. With hard work and commitment, one can easily bell the CAT.

Even if you fail to clear your CAT, you know where you stand this year. Here are some options ahead of you:

a. You are reasonably well equipped for CAT next year.
b. You can now prepare and sit for all the other major exams that follow — like the XLRI Admission Test, Faculty of Management Studies Test, Common Entrance Test and so on.

Don’t limit your options. Plan ahead !!!

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 semester exams. A minimum of 3 to 9 months of regular preparation is essential.

To be honest CAT is not for the faint-hearted. It requires days and hours of rigorous practice, dedication and commitment. And this is not an overstatement. You should realize that if you want to make it, you’ll have to display certain degree of commitment and dedication towards this cause. Also, CAT is not about plain hardwork - it is more about smartwork.

CAT, as popularly believed, is not just the test of Quantitative or Verbal Prowess. The top B-schools are more interested in your ability to handle uncertainty and stress. Numerous studies conducted by psychoanalysts have shown that ’stress’, as opposed to general notion, is not entirely bad; it can have both a positive and a negative effect on us. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us into action; we all thrive under a certain amount of stress. Deadlines, competitions, confrontations, give us a new awareness and perspective. Simply put, stress can be our driving force. Thus, our goal should not be to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it in a way that it works for us rather than against us!

The mind plays a big role in belling the CAT. We need to eat, sleep, breathe CAT. There are no shortcuts here. What is required is total focus, irrespective of what we are doing at a given moment. For example, even when you watch television, you should subconsciously keep thinking about CAT.

CAT is all about our vision, which makes us see the tree and ignore the forest, while preparing for the 19-Nov D-Day. I’ll suggest you - don’t make it a Dreaded Day. CAT is not about selecting the best rocket scientist anyway. Managers need to have good all round skills and planning ability. That’s what you need to crack CAT.

All the best!

This article delivers a general perspective of the CAT exam, the value of its score, scholarships offered, reserved seats etc.

CAT SCORES

The CAT scorecard will be mailed to the candidates after January 2, 2007. The CAT score will remain valid for admission to PGPs of IIMs for the year 2007-08, unless specified otherwise. For further details, kindly refer to CAT Bulletin.

SCHOLARSHIPS / FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

It is the endeavor of all IIMs that no student be denied opportunity to pursue the Post-Graduate Programme in Management for want of adequate financial resources.
Substantial need-based scholarships are available for students belonging to economically disadvantaged families.

RESERVATIONS

As per Government of India requirement, 15% and 7½% seats are reserved for SC and ST candidates, respectively. In addition, Government of India has proposed to
Reserve seats for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) starting from academic year 2007-08. The details of the reservation for candidates belonging
To Other Backward Classes (OBC) would be notified by the IIMs on their websites and through an advertisement in national newspapers on receipt of an official communication from the appropriate authority.

3% seats are reserved for Persons with Disability (PWD) as per PWD Act 1995. The three categories of disability are: -
a) low-vision/blindness,
b) Hearing impairment, and
c) loco meters disability/cerebral palsy.
Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD/OBC are advised to enclose a photocopy of their category certificate at the time of the submission of CAT application form. They also need to mark carefully the category to which they belong while filling the application form.
The candidates belonging to categories for which seats are reserved need to note and read carefully the eligibility requirements before applying. It should be noted
that while it is the endeavor of IIMs that the candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD/OBC categories join the programme in proportions mentioned by the law, they have to meet the minimum eligibility criteria and a certain minimum level of performance in the admission process. The candidates should read carefully the description of admission process followed by each IIM in CAT Bulletin.

TEST CENTRES

Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jamshedpur,
Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Patna and Pune.
Note: IIMs reserve the right to change or cancel any test centre at their discretion.

CAT BULLETIN

The CAT Bulletin containing the CAT Application Form and other information can be obtained at branches of UTI Bank/Post Offices listed below, between July 17 and
August 17, 2006 for Rs. 1100/- (Rs. 550/- for SC/ST candidates). Please note that a candidate needs to buy only one CAT Bulletin irrespective of how many IIMs he/she is applying to. Candidates buying the forms from UTI Bank / Post Offices / IIMs must enclose the copy of Bank’s / IIMs’ Pay-in Slip bearing the candidate’s name with the CAT Application Form. SC/ST candidates should submit a copy of SC/ST Certificate to the Bank/IIM at the time of obtaining the CAT Bulletin. CAT application forms of ineligible candidates and application forms with incomplete information will be summarily rejected. No claim of refund will be entertained on Bulletin once sold.

This list might be needed by the aspirants as various application forms are expected to reach this bank!!

ANDHRA PRADESH:
Chittoor (Prakasam High Road),
Hyderabad Main (Begumpet Road),
Secunderabad (Rashtrapati House),
Kakinada (Subhash Road),
Kurnool (Railway Station Road),
Vijayawada (Rajagopalachari Street),
Vishakhapatnam (Dwaraka Nagar),
Warangal (Station Road);

ASSAM:
Guwahati (Dispur),
Jorhat (A.T.Road);
BIHAR: Bhagalpur (Patal Babu Road),
Muzaffarpur (Club Road),
Patna (S.P.Verma Road);

CHATTISGARH:
Bhilai (Off GE Road),
Bilaspur (Near New Bus Stand),
Korba (Power House Road),
Raipur (Jeevan Bima Marg);

DELHI:
Delhi Main (Barakhamba Road),
Dariaganj (Netaji Subhash Marg),
Defense Colony, Greater Kailash-II, Malviya Nagar,
Rajouri Garden (Vishal Enclave),
Vasantkunj (Nelson Mandela Road);

GOA:
Panaji (Dr. Atmaram Borkar Marg);

GUJARAT:
Ahmedabad Main (Ellisbridge),
Ahmedabad (Vastrapur),
Ahmedabad (Maninagar),
Baroda (Race Course Circle - North),
Bhavnagar (Waghawadi Road),
Rajkot (Kalawad Road),
Surat Main (Ghod Dod Road);
Vallabh Vidyanagar (Nr. HM Patel House);

HARYANA:
Ambala Cantt (Jagadri Road),
Gurgaon (Sector-14),
Faridabad (NIT),
Kurukshetra (Rilway Road),
Panipat (GT Road),
Rohtak (Delhi Road);

HIMACHAL PRADESH:
Shimla (Kasumpti);
JHARKHAND: Dhanbad (Bank More),
Jamshedpur Main (Bistupur),
Ranchi (Main Road);

KARNATAKA:
Bangalore Main (MG Road),
Bangalore (J.P.Nagar),
Bangalore (Jayanagar),
Bangalore (Koramangala),
Bangalore (Marathahalli),
Ballary (Main Road),
Belgaum (Congress Road);
Devanagare (PS Road),
Gulbarga (Super Market),
Hubli (Deshpande Nagar),
Karwar (Green Street),
Mangalore (Bunts Hostel Circle),
Mysore (Temple Road);

KERALA:
Kozhikode (YMCA Cross Road),
Kochi (Rajaji Road),
Thiruvananthapuram (MG Road);

MADHYA PRADESH:
Bhopal (MP Nagar),
Gwalior (Madhavrao Scindia Marg),
Indore (Yaswant Niwas Road),
Jabalpur (Shastri Bridge Chowk),
Satna (Rewa Road);

MAHARASHTRA:
Ahmednagar (Tilak Road),
Amaravati (Nr. Jaistamb Chowk),
Aurangabad (Adalat Road),
Kolhapur (Station Road),
Mumbai (Main Fort),
Mumbai (Andheri West),
Mumbai (Borivli West),
Mumbai (Shivaji Park),
Mumabi (Bandra West),
Mumbai (Mulund West),
Mumbai (Vashi),
Nagpur Main (Sitabuldi),
Nasik (Sharanpur Road),
Pune Main (J.M.Road),
Thane Main (L.B.S.Marg);

MEGHALAYA:
Shillong (Jail Road);

ORISSA:
Angul (Main Road),
Balasore (OT Road),
Berhampur (Ganjam),
Bhubaneswar (Satyanagar),
Cuttack (Badambadi),
Rourkela (Kachery Road),
Sambalpur (VSS Marg);

PUNJAB:
Amritsar (Court Road),
Jalandhar (Mahavir Marg),
Ludhiana Main (The Mall),
Patiala (Rajwara Road);

RAJASTHAN:
Ajmer (Kutchery Road),
Bikaner (Rani Bazaar Road),
Jaipur Main (Ashok Marg),
Jodhpur (Chopasni Road),
Kota (Shopping Centre),
Udaipur (Chetak Marg);

SIKKIM:
Gangtok (M.G.Road);

TAMILNADU:
Chennai Main (Mylapore),
Chennai (Adyar),
Coimbatore (Avinashi Road),
Madurai (Goods Shed Street),
Salem (Omalur Main Road),
Tiruchirapalli (Salai Road),
Tirunelveli (East Car Street);
TRIPURA: Agartala (HG Basak Road);

UTTARANCHAL:
Dehra Dun (Rajpur Road),
Roorkee (Civil Lines),
Rudrapur (Nainital Road);

UTTAR PRADESH:
Agra (Sanjay Palace),
Aligarh (Ramghat Road),
Allahabad (MG Marg),
Bareilly (Civil Lines),
Gorakhpur (Bank Road),
Jhansi (Civil Lines),
Kanpur (The Mall),
Lucknow Main (Ashok Marg),
Meerut (Boundary Road),

NOIDA (Sector-16),
Varanasi (Shastri Nagar);

WEST BENGAL:
Burdwan (GT Road),
Durgapur (City Centre),
Kharagpur (Malancha Road),
Kolkata Main (Shakespeare Sarani),
Kolkata (Bahala),
Kolkata (Salt Lake City),
Kolkata (Golpark),
Kolkata (Dalhousie Square),
Kolkata (Shyam Bazaar),
Siliguri (Sevoke Road);

CHANDIGARH:
Chandigarh (Sector-34A);

PONDICHERRY: Pondicherry (Bussy Street).

CAT has been one of the most prestigious exam for Management Entrance. Have a look at the changing trend of CAT over a period of 10 years.

1995 to 1998:

Total Questions - 185
Time - 120 minutes
Verbal Ability - 50 Q
Reading Comprehension - 50 Q
Problem Solving - 45 Q
Data Interpretation - 40 Q

In 1995 and 1996, the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension sections were grouped and had a time limit of 1 hour.
Similarly, the Problem Solving and Data Interpretation sections were grouped and had a time limit of 1 hour.
There was no such time limit in 1997 and 1998.

1999:

Total Questions - 165
Time - 120 minutes
Section 1 : 55 Q - Verbal Ability - 25 Q and Reading Comprehension - 30 Q
Section 2 : 55 Q - Problem Solving - 55 Q
Section 3 : 55 Q - Data Interpretation - 31 Q and Verbal Reasoning - 24 Q

2000:

Total Questions - 165
Time - 120 minutes
Section 1 : 55 Q - Verbal Ability - 15 Q and Reading Comprehension - 40 Q
Section 2 : 55 Q - Problem Solving - 55 Q
Section 3 : 55 Q - Data Interpretation - 31 Q and Verbal Ability - 24 Q

2001:

Total Questions - 150
Time - 120 minutes
Section 1 : 50 Q - Verbal Ability - 20 Q and Reading Comprehension - 30 Q
Section 2 : 50 Q - Problem Solving - 50 Q
Section 3 : 50 Q - Data Interpretation - 31 Q and Logical Reasoning - 19 Q

2002:

Total Questions - 150
Time - 120 minutes
Section 1 : 50 Q - Data Interpretation - 40 Q and Logical Reasoning - 10 Q
Section 2 : 50 Q - Problem Solving - 50 Q
Section 3 : 50 Q - Verbal Ability - 25 Q and Reading Comprehension - 25 Q

2003 (re-exam format given):

Total Questions - 150
Time - 120 minutes
Section 1 : 50 Q - Verbal Ability - 25 Q and Reading Comprehension - 25 Q
Section 2 : 50 Q - Data Interpretation - 30 Q and Logical Reasoning - 20 Q
Section 3 : 50 Q - Problem Solving

2004:

Total Questions - 123 Total marks: 150
Time - 120 minutes

Section 1
Data Interpretation: 20Q of 1 mark each
Data Sufficiency: 6 Q of 1 mark each
Logical Reasoning: 12 Q of 2 marks each

Section 2
Math problems: 20 Q of 1 mark each
Math problems: 15 Q of 2 marks each

Section 3
Verbal Ability: 10 Q of 0.5 marks each
Verbal Ability: 14 Q of 1 mark each
Verbal Ability: 5 Q of 2 marks each
Reading Comprehension: 21 Q of 1 mark each
There was no section wise time limit in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
REMEMBER : It is essential that you demonstrate your competence in all the sections.

What follows is the list of Indian B-Schools taking admissions on the basis of CAT scores. These schools are arranged in the order of their All - India - Ranking.

1. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
2. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
3. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
4. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow
5. Indian Institute of Management, Indore
6. Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
7. Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
8. Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad
9. S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
10. National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai
11. Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management, Calcutta.
12. International Management Institute (IMI), Delhi
13. K.J Somaiya School of management, Mumbai
14. Nirma Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
15. T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
16. University Business School (UBS),Chandigarh
17. Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research
18. Department of Management Studies, Goa University, Goa
19. Dept. of Commerce & Management, Andhra Univ, Vishakhapatnam
20. Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi
21. Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
22. Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad
23. Institute For Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai
24. Institute for Integrated Learning in Mgmt. (IILM), Delhi
25. Institute for Technology & Management (ITM), Navi Mumbai
26. Institute of Management Development & Research (IMDR), Pune
27. Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow
28. Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS), Harihar
29. Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Mgmt., Delhi
30. School of Management Studies, Cochin University, Cochin

Often students opt for MBA in order to sharpen the skills required for being efficient manager. Completion of the MBA program leads students to find an employment where they can apply the gained knowledge. However even after competition of MBA, it is not so easy to get the desired job. But some strategies can drive you till there.

One of such strategies is networking. It is one of the essential techniques as most of the MBA openings are never advertised. Such positions are filled internally, where the management reaches you with their desired qualifications and requirements.

Another way is you can contact companies and mention about your degree and skills. Upon asking for the possible openings, they will get in touch with you as and when there are any vacancy matching to your qualification. For this you need to provide your contact details to them.

Most of the management schools offer career placements and run job fairs too. You can get in touch with college’s career office and check what they have to offer you. However do not rely much on the colleges as they concentrate on offering jobs only, but lack qualities job openings some times.

One of the other ways to hunt the job is recruitment agencies or headhunters. You have to make all your required details available to these agencies. They will help you to find job matching to your profile and expextations. They have details of various openings and it’s their job to find right candidates for the company. So it is easier for them to match your profile with the right company.

Apart from that, now-a-days you can take help of latest technology for hunting job for you. There are many job websites  like www.koolkampus.com etc are available detailing about the MBA vacancies. The recent development on this front is arrival of “aggregator” job sites, which helps you a lot. In addition you can also take help of conventional methods such as newspapers.

In addition, do not compromise on the salary that you wish to draw. Be sure of what salary that you expect.