59,000 to take CAT from NCR

NEW DELHI: Come November 16, and the common admission test (CAT) would 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 would 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 would 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-and-half-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."

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