Why is CAT Exam Preparation Important?

A computer-based entrance exam called the Common Admission Test (CAT) is available to prospective students who want to pursue an MBA, or post-graduate degree in business administration. This exam was first given by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), who utilize it to choose students for their Business Administration degrees (Masters in Business Administration or Post Graduate Diploma in Management). IIMs administer the CAT on an annual basis according to a rotational schedule. Except for IIMs, the majority of India's top B-schools evaluate the CAT score when deciding which applicants to accept. Around 1,200 B-schools across the nation accept it, and it is administered at about 4,000 exam centers across 156 cities. There are two sessions total.

As per the latest guidelines, in order to be eligible for CAT:

1. The candidate has to pass at least their Bachelor's degree with at least 50% for General Category (for candidates from the NC-OBC caste, for SC/ST and Differently Abled (DA) candidates, the percentage required is 45%).

2. For the Degree to be counted, the University that has awarded the degree has to be recognized by the MHRD.

3. Candidates who have completed their professional degrees with over 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD) are also eligible for CAT.

4. The final year students of all Bachelor's degrees are also eligible to give CAT with the caveat that they will clear their Bachelor's with the required percentage (45% or 50%).  

5. There is no age limit to apply for the exam.

The pattern of the exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam is taken online over a period of three hours, with one hour per section.

The Common Admission Test (CAT), like virtually all large-scale exams, utilizes multiple forms, or versions, of the test. There are two types of scores involved: a raw score and a scaled score. The score calculated for each section based on the number of questions one answered correctly, incorrectly, or left unattempted is called raw score (Candidates are given +3 points for each correct answer and -1 point for each incorrect answer with no points awarded for questions that are not answered). The raw scores are then adjusted through a process called equating. Equated raw scores are then placed on a common scale or metric to ensure appropriate interpretation of the scores. This process is called scaling.

From 2015 onwards, CAT has seen a rise in the number of registrations every year. The sharpest rise in CAT registration was in 2016 when the number of applicants jumped from 2.19 lakh in 2015 to 2.32 lakh. Since then, the national level MBA entrance exam has seen a steady rise in the number of applicants.

Most of the CAT aspirants start preparing for it while still in their final year of graduation. Although it is up to the aspirant to appear for the exam when he/she is ready for CAT, appearing while still in the final year of graduation has its own advantages. Preparation for CAT requires at least 9-12 months. For a candidate studying in the final year of graduation, it is an ideal time to prepare for CAT alongside their final year. College students with Mathematics as one of their papers can prepare easily for the Quantitative Ability section. Unlike a working professional, final year students can easily take out time to attend the coaching classes. Such candidates are not bound by a 9-5 schedule. Taking coaching classes for CAT preparation may not be necessary for all, but it does help the candidate in disciplined and streamlined preparation. No gap year and no loss of income induce the college students to prepare for the exam alongside.

One of the many advantages for a final year student to prepare for the exam is that they can earn work experience before joining the course. The Indian Institute of Management and some other prestigious institutions allow candidates selected for admission, to defer their admission for up to two years if they wish to earn work experience before pursuing the post-graduate course. Around 10% of seats are reserved for such candidates.

Most of the working professionals pursue a Masters in Business Administration along with their jobs. According to experts, 4-5 hours of preparation daily for about 5 months is enough to ace the exam. So, candidates who are already working, don't need to quit their jobs but alter their daily routine. With office work, meetings, traveling time, it may seem difficult to spare so many hours, but it isn't impossible. It is beneficial for such candidates too, to prepare for CAT since they have the relevant work experience and a steady income.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the way to be successful in preparing for a competitive exam, like CAT, is to practice the mock tests. All the CAT toppers recommend practicing as many mock tests as one can. The benefit of it is, that with each solved mock test, one gets to know his/her mistakes and progress, it increases speed and new shortcuts to solve the questions are discovered. Since CAT is all about speed and accuracy, mock tests are the best platform to develop them.

Connecting with other CAT aspirants, asking questions, sharing insights, and expanding your knowledge base help in preparing for the exam. In such forums, there are many experts who help students in preparing for such career-defining exams. Interacting with people going through the same grind as you are, is important to keep the motivation level high. Downloading study apps is also a good idea to utilize time. You can log on to these apps and study on the phone while on the go.

“Dream it, wish it and do it.”

‍