Process of CAT for IIM MBA

Getting admission into an IIM is a 3-step process. The test very well known as IIm Cat for Mba the Common Admission Test (CAT), followed by a Group Discussion and a Personal Interview if you clear CAT. Do not fear.

You do not have to be a genius or an academic topper to get through what might seem like an impossible goal. On the contrary, all you need is a logical flow of thought and an analytical mind and the IIM dream is yours to live.

Once you have cracked CAT, the next step in the selection process is a Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).

You would start with a  IIM MBA GD which is not elimination round. This means that you will give a PI irrespective of your performance in the GD round. The GD round usually consists of a group of 6-10 students. The panel remains the same over the GD and PI and usually consists of IIM MBA Professors.

The topic in a GD is usually a general topic but can vary to just about anything under the sun. 

The last round of selection is the PI. Most of us have a tendency to view an interview as something where someone is sitting across from us and we are trying to convince them of something and get on the top. However, we can perform much better if we could just look at it as a conversation that we are having with some people sitting with us, who are interested in hearing our opinion on different things. They are not looking for reasons to reject us; instead they are actually looking for reasons to accept us into their academic institute. If you have made it this far, they do recognize that you have potential and have a very open stance instead of being the threatening monsters that you probably imagine them to be.  One  thing is that you should prepare your content well for a PI. The content here consists of preparing your graduation subjects very well and understanding their application to some real world scenarios. Be confident and do not lie. If you don’t know the answer to something, just say that. There is nothing wrong about not knowing something. At the same time it is very important to stay composed through out the GD and interview. 

CAT Duration and Pattern

The CAT 2011 will have only two sections. The first section isQuantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; the second section isVerbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. These two sections will be implemented sequentially with separate time limits. The examination will be 140 minutes. Candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section which will have an on-screen countdown timer. Within the 70 min provided for the section, candidates can review the answers. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second section and will no longer be able to go back.

A 15-minute tutorial will be provided before the start of the test, and candidates are advised to go through that carefully before starting the main examination. The total duration will be two hours and thirty five minutes including the tutorial. A practice test to provide candidates with a feel of the timed sections, as well as navigation and functionality of the actual test will be made available in the coming weeks. Once again candidates are advised to go though them carefully to familiarise themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.

At the test venue, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a scratch paper for calculations. After the test, candidate must leave the scratch paper at the desk. Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the testing room. No breaks will be given during the test.

IIM Mba admission 2012- 2014

Important date for CAT 2011

• Sale of CAT Vouchers :
  Wednesday, 17 August 2011 - Monday, 26 September 2011
• Registration for CAT 2011 :
  Wednesday, 17 August 2011 - Wednesday, 28 September 2011
• CAT Test Dates :
  Saturday, 22 October 2011 - Friday, 18 November 2011
• CAT Result :
  Wednesday 11 January 2012

IIM MBA Interview Tips

In an attempt to help you prepare for your GD and Personal Interview, CAT 2009 topper and a student of IIM-Calcutta Ankit Garg reveals tips to succeed in GD and Interview-:

1) Personal Interview: If you want to succeed in this round, you must know how to sell yourself. You should know how to market yourself and should be compatible with your interviewer. It is not that questions asked in the interview are tough, but it is what and how you answer is what will fetch you a seat in IIM MBA. Also remember each institute checks different things in a candidate. They are looking for different traits and it is advisable to find out what each IIM is looking for in their candidates. In my case, I did research and got to know that IIM - Calcutta checks on how a student deals in pressure situation. As we all know life in B-school is very hectic and demanding, IIM - C will gauge if you can handle all this pressure. Hence, best thing is to talk to seniors or go through institute`s website to know what the interview panel is looking for while interviewing candidates. Also, you should be able to express yourself well and you must have soft skills to develop a rapport with your interviewers.

2) Group Discussion: There is one misconception which I would like to clear for B- school aspirants and that is that it is not necessary that you have to speak too much to make a mark in GD. It is not how much you talk but how much you contribute to the discussion that sets you apart. A GD checks how you conduct yourself in a Boardroom. It checks how you conduct yourself, how you handle everyone present in the room. You should give others a chance to speak and never try to be imposing. Be soft spoken yet assertive.

3) Essay writing: Though IIM - Calcutta does not ask candidates to write an essay, there are a few IIMs that check how an aspirant can structure his thoughts. Like I was asked to write an essay on Tiger Conservation when I went for my selection process in IIM - Bangalore. Each institute has different ways of judging students based on essay writing. The time is limited and can vary between 10 to 30 minutes and it checks how well you can structure your thoughts.

4) What to wear during Interview: When you're going for a B-school interview, you must be properly dressed. The B-school interviews still follow the conservative standard. You should wear formal suit or at least pant and shirt and have polished shoes, ironed shirt, cut hair and nails. You must look neat, serious and should make an impact.

Strategy to Crack CAT Exam

MBA-CAT Exam is a Online Common Admission Test for getting admission into the IIM (Indian Institutes of Management) and about 120 other MBA Colleges in India. Currently there are 9 IIM in India. They are listed below. The Online CAT Test is held online once a year in last week of November.

List of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) in India :

1) IIM Ahmedabad
2) IIM Bangalore (Bengaluru)
3) IIM Calcatta (Kolkata)
4) IIM Lucknow
5) IIM Indore
6) IIM Kozhikode
7) IIM Shillong
8) IIM Ranchi
9) IIM Rothak
10) IIM Raipur

To get into IIMs and the 120 Colleges which use CAT Scores one has to go through a selection process which includes most OR all of the following :

1. Written Test
2. Group Discussion
3. Personal Interview
4. Essay Writing
5. Psychometric Test
6. Group Task
7. Management Games

The percentile secured in CAT is used by the B-Schools in India for short-listing candidates for admissions to their Institutes MBA Programs.

The written exam tests the aptitude of the candidate in a number of areas. It usually consists of questions related to :

1. Quantitative Ability
(Questions in Mathematics mostly from 8-9-10 standard, covering Arithmetic, Geometry, Menstruation, Algebra, Trigonometry and Co-ordinate Geometry)

2. Verbal Section
(Questions in the area cover Grammar, Sentence Correction, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension & Verbal Analogies)

3. Data Interpretation / Data Sufficiency
(Analysis of Data. Usually data is in form of tables, charts, graphs. Students are required to study them and answer the related questions)

4. Logical Reasoning / Ability
(Questions to be solved using Common Logic)

5. General Awareness
(Currently CAT does not have questions on General Knowledge)
(Questions pertaining to current/past issues (national & global), economics, general knowledge etc.


Preparation Strategy to Crack CAT Exam:

There is no formula or shortcut to crack the CAT or any other MBA Entrance Test. One should take care of the following :

1. Clear your concepts of 8-9-10 standard maths (preferably NCRT)
2. Extensive Reading on current issues (Indian & Global), business, economics etc. Reading magzines like Business India/World/Today, Forbes India, India Today, Frontline, and National English Newspapers daily is recommended.
3. Regular puzzle solving
4. Solve as many questions in all areas of the CAT Test. Subscribe to study material from any national coaching center or download from internet. This practice will give you the required speed needed for CAT.
5. Join a Test Series of min 20 Tests and do the complete analysis of each test. We suggest you to join any 2 leading National CAT Coaching Centers such as T.I.M.E., IMS, Career Launcher for test series.
6. Daily write an essay (2-3 pages) on any one topic (currently issues, business etc) of your choice. Try refining them after 1 month.
7. Speak English 24x7 for fluency confidence
8. Increase your vocabulary by over 1000 words (ie memorize & then use 20 new words daily).

IIM CAT 2009

The IIM MBA CAT examination starting from November 29 to December 7 will be different in more ways than one, with major logistics revamp to suit the new format.

Candidates will get only 15 minutes to familiarise themselves with the new system on how to answer and review the questions before the actual test lasting two hours and 15 minutes begins. The testing sessions will be audio and video recorded. Contingency plans have been put in place in the event of power outage, technical glitches , medical outbreaks, natural calamities and terrorist attacks, according to the guidebook.

An estimated 2.41 lakh candidates are said to have registered for CAT this year as compared to 2.46 lakh who took the test in 2008. MBA CAT is a qualifying test for a management programme at the seven Indian Institutes of Management iim as well as other institutes that accept the CAT scores. It will be held in close to 104 test centres across 32 cities in India. The results will be declared on the CAT website by the end of January.

Talk with a Cat Cracker

"Be sure in yourself that you want to do MBA. It is not the end of the world if you don’t want it.".
Vipul Goel, IIM Lucknow (2009), IITD (2005), discusses with a leading website about his mba preparation journey and making it to best mba college in India.

1. Tell us something about yourself.

I am a Delhi guy since the start. I have done my engineering from IIT Delhi. Worked in a MNC for two years and then went for higher studies at IIM Lucknow. At present I am working in another MNC.

2. Why did you choose IIM mba Lucknow?

The reason for choosing IIM mba Lucknow was it being one of the premiere institute for pursuing MBA in India. The broader perspective to business world and the chance to pursue studies according to your choices and interests were some of the factors which supported the fact.

3. Tell us something about the life in IIML?

IIM Lucknow is a place where you get a chance to meet people coming from all walks of life. A fresher coming out of a small college in India as well as people who ended up as as COO of some top firms (after graduation), people who have written books, people who have worked in army. Ofcourse, geographical diversity of the place can never be missed. All this can provide a different aspect to one’s outlook in the life.

Other than that almost all batchmates were super enthusiastic people who take interest and pride in their work. The quality of the teams in which I have worked throughout the period was amazing. Before MBA I was a person who wasn’t confident in interacting people with various walks of life which I felt is a hindrance in reaching the top. Presently I enjoy interacting with all which I believe. This is the biggest change in myself.

The life of MBA isn’t over without mentioning the number of clubs, committees and competitions which help one in fulfilling their interests in academic interests as well as in fine arts.

4. What made you leave your well-settled job and go for a full time MBA?

Leaving a well-settled job and high paying job is never an easy decision. One needs to be absolutely sure that they want to go for it. Difference it might make to one’s career is reaching your career advance in a Ferrari then by a Honda

5. How did you study for mba entrance exam?

I never studied for CAT. That was the only exam I appeared for. I simply kept my cool on the day and cracked the same.

6. What was your strategy for GD/PI?

For GD, I only spoke my points which I felt relevant. I always avoided entering a fish market. Idea is to make your points early to give structure to a presentation or give new direction if no new points are coming up. Please don’t try to be a leader of the group as usually most of the contemporaries are aggressive enough themselves and this strategy can backfire.

In PI, be yourself. Don’t try to fake your reasons for doing MBA or your achievements. Confidence is a must as you never know, what question can come up next. I have seen interviews going in very different direction then expected. Also, don’t indulge in asking those who had given interview first as to what their experience was or what questions were asked as it only hampers your open mindedness.

Just a fact that my IIM mba Lucknow interview has lasted less than 8 minutes, ended on a seemingly bad note as per others. I ended up among top 20 entrants there.

7. According to you, what is the right time to go for an MBA. Should economic scenarios drive an individual MBA plans?

In short term yes economic scenario can drive an individual’s MBA plans. On a longer term however, it doesn’t matter. You get to learn much more during adverse times which can guide you better when times change.

8. Any advice for future mba aspirants?

Be sure in yourself that you want to do MBA. It is not the end of the world if you don’t want it. Hundreds of career waiting which can make you earn much more if you are a top performer in them.

Crack IIM CAT

Tips to prepare for IIM CAT

1. Place two table clocks on your study table. Both should be stop clocks. Give each clock a name. Let their names be "Actual" and "Believed". The Actual clock will keep a count of the actual time you spend on your studies, while the Believed clock will maintain a record of the time you believe you are spending on your studies.

2. Set both clocks to 12 noon when you start your studies for the day. Stop both when you give yourself a planned break of more than half-an-hour. However, when your break is of a duration smaller than half-an-hour, or at least that is what you believe, stop the ‘Actual’ clock and let the ‘Believed’ clock tick as usual. Even if you are daydreaming, stop the ‘Actual’ clock by the appropriate time amount.

3. Check the time on both clocks when you are done for the day. The ratio of time difference between the Actual and the Believed clock will give you the exact measure of your efficiency. An efficiency of over 80 per cent is excellent. An efficiency of over 70 per cent is acceptable.

Try to maintain & increase your efficiency.Only then u can expect to have chance in " CAT cracking "

Ranking of Cat coaching Centers ( Delhi )

There is mushrooming of coaching centers in Delhi. Without any official ranking or other criteria which can be fairly used , students fails to get the best coaching.
Visitors to my blog always asks for the ranking of MBA CAT coaching centers.................here i am giving rank to four famous MBA CAT coaching centers according to Student`s experience, CAT results & other criteria as deemed fit for evaluation of coaching centers.


1) IMS

2) PT education

3) T.I.M.E.

4) Carrer launcher

Pattern Of CAT

The pattern (format) of the CAT paper in the last 12 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


2005:

Total Questions - 90 Total marks: 150
Time - 120 minutes


Section 1

Verbal Ability: 10Q of 1 mark each

Verbal Ability/Reading Comprehension: 20Q of 2 marks each


Section 2

Math problems: 10Q of 1 mark each

Math problems: 20Q of 2 marks each


Section 3

Data Interpretation/Data Sufficiency/Logical Reasoning: 10Q of 1 mark each

Data Interpretation/Data Sufficiency/Logical Reasoning: 20Q of 2 marks each

2006:

Total Questions - 75 Total marks: 300
Time - 150 minutes


Section 1

Data Interpretation/Data Sufficiency/Logical Reasoning: 25Q of 4 marks each

Section 2

Math problems: 25Q of 4 marks each

Section 3

Verbal Ability/Reading Comprehension: 25Q of 4 marks each

There was no section wise time limit in from 1999 - 2006.

REMEMBER : It is essential that you demonstrate your competence in all the sections.



Some noticeable trends in CAT:

The following trends are clearly noticeable in CAT in the last few years.

The weightage of Math based questions has increased. Until 1998, we would have 85 out of 185 questions that were Math based. This is about 45%. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 almost 81-90 out of 150 questions. This is between 55-60%!!

The Problem solving section would constitute 1 out of 4 sections in the test until 1998. In the last 6 years, it has been 1 out of 3 sections. The importance of this section has therefore tremendously increased (from 24% of the total paper to 33.33% of the total paper)

CAT has been getting progressively tougher and thereby low scoring by the year. You no longer need fantastic scores of 100+ to clear the CAT. Over the years, SharpMinds students who have cleared the CAT and made it to the IIMs have had in the range of 75-90 attempts in the paper.