CAT- the common admission test is one of the most fearsome entrance tests, that the management students need to take and are worried about. The students clearing CAT are determined to become a part of few of the most renowned management institutions of the country. The students have to work very hard to achieve their target of taking admission in one of the Indian Institute of Management. It is the dream of every student, but it’s not that easy to accomplish. The test is very difficult and tests the students on various parameters, to check their eligibility for admission to such a prestigious institution. The test is scientifically designed and ensures accuracy and fairness in the exam. The students start preparing for the common entrance test, from years before they take the actual exam. In fact, students also take classes, to train themselves in various subjects. There are many coaching centres, which trains the students in their respective fields and help them to get admission in good MBA colleges.

Following are few of the steps, which can help a student score well in his CAT entrance test:

The students need to prepare hard and keep on taking mock tests. Doing practise makes it possible for the students to be able to get off with the fear of exam. The students should be aware of all the concepts and the methods, which are supposed to be used in the exams and which makes it easier for the student to solve the questions.

The commencement of online tests, has made it bit difficult for the students to take the exams easily and complete the test on time. The students are advised to practise tests online, so that they form a habit of reading faster over the net and can make correct and apt sense of what is written. It’s quite difficult to interpret images and graphs formed on the screen, therefore the students need to make themselves comfortable using the mouse and the keyboard, for solving the questions.

The students should not at all feel nervous and should always make it a habit to be cool and calm while taking exam. They should try and concentrate in their exam, while taking the exam, rather than looking here and there and should give the maximum amount of productivity at the time of exam.

The students should form a strategy, as in how they will proceed step by step. The question paper should be solved according to the set plan and is sure to help the student to maintain a free and a positive flow while answering the questions. The test patterns followed in the question papers of the last few years, should be followed by the students and they should keep an eye on the changing patterns or on any changes made in regard to the CAT.

The practise of the exams should also be done online, to develop smoothness with the keyboard and mouse. This ways, it would be easier for the student to answer the questions at the time of exam.

Apart from all the above mentioned steps, which largely apply on the new format of the CAT exam, the students should be confident and should always have full preparation for the exam. The parents of the students should not put any pressure on them and should always give them the space to take tests in their own comfortable zone. The students appearing for CAT, are also required to have great communication skills. They should be able to analyse and interpret things successfully and come up with fruitful results by scoring high in CAT and securing a safe position in one of the IIM’s.

An Entrance Examination is an Examination which is conducted by various Educational Institutions to select students for admission in various College or Universities. These Examinations can be administered at any level of education, though these are conducted at higher level of education. Entrance Examinations are the Testing Grounds for any Student to evaluate one’s abilities and capabilities in relation to the Admission into an Institution he/she has chosen and in relation to one’s chosen Academic Stream. Most of the Entrance Examination are conducted by Elite Institutes. These Institutes are known for their Superior Result oriented, cream of Faculty and Candidates and as such have gained a lot of Reputation. Most of the Popular Entrance Examinations in India are AIEEE, JEE, CLAT, MBBS, BDS to name a few. Indian Entrance Examinations are widespread with just about most of the Institutes conducting their own separate Entrance Examinations on the same basis as of National Entrance Examinations. Some of the Entrance Examinations like the IIT-JEE, CAT and AIPMT are considered among the toughest in the world, with JEE having a success rate of around 1 in 45. Over the year these Examinations have gained high importance, have become very topical, important and in the process has garnered controversies which have affected students, parents and the administrators.

History of Indian Entrance Examinations

Entrance Examinations emerged with establishment of the University of Calcutta in 1857. The University introduced the Entrance Examination, primarily to decide as to who was eligible for admission to the University. The Examination attained the Status of a School Leaving Examination. Subsequently, the name was changed to Matriculation. After independence of India in 1947, the Examination System was further revised: the Secondary Examination after class X was called the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam and the examination after class XII was called Higher Secondary Examination (HSC). However the Modern Entrance Examinations of Today owe their existence to the various IIT’s (Indian Institute of Technology) set up during the 1950’s. It was the IITs which introduced the All-India Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) for their admissions. The logic behind introducing these as formal procedure was that varied marks of different school boards could not be used to create a common merit list. Since the inception of JEE, various Indian States followed the pattern and started Entrance Tests for admission in respective states. Soon the Central Board of Secondary Education started PMT (Pre Medical Test) for select medical colleges in the country and the All India Entrance Exam'>Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) for admission to National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and also for any engineering institution which may opt for it.

Entrance Examinations held in India

* Most of the Government and Private Educational Institutes conduct Entrance Examinations for various professional courses. These Entrance Examinations are basically Multiple Choice Question Papers or more popularly known as MCQ’s in the Academic Lingo. This Pattern was introduced as it was considered that scores obtained by school students are based on conventional, long-answer papers which might not represent the actual potential of a student. The reason being given that these scores can represent a Human Examiner’s Errors and as such these would be unacceptable in a closely competitive environment where even a mark or two could affect a student’s career. This subjectivity was eliminated with the introduction of a Special Examiner. It is known as OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) reading Laser which was introduced in 2006.

* Usually Engineering Institutes in India admit 15% of their students through the national-level AIEEE and the remaining 85% based on their scores in the entrance exam conducted by the state in which the college is located.

* Government Medical Institutes follow the same procedure, basing admissions on the candidate’s rank at the All India Pre-Medical Test.

* Indian Institutes of Management conducts a Common Admission Test for the candidates.

* Indian Institutes of Technology conducts IIT-JEE.

Various Entrance and Eligibility Examinations in India

Entrance Exam'>Engineering Entrance Exams:

AIEEE – All India Engineering/Architecture Entrance Exam.
JEE – Joint Entrance Examination.
GATE – Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
NATA – National Aptitude Test in Architecture.
SLIET – Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology Entrance Test.
State Entrance Exam'>Engineering Entrance Exams – PTU CET, RPET etc.

Medical Entrance Exams:

AIPMT – All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Exam.
AIIMS – All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Entrance Examination.
AICEE – All India Common Entrance Examination, by Veterinary Council of India.
State Medical Entrance Exams – PTU CET, RPET etc.

Science / Computer Entrance Exams:

CST – Competence in Software Technology Exam.
GSA – Graduate School Admission Test.
JAM – Joint Admission Test to M.Sc.
JEST – Joint Entrance Screening Test for Ph.D. Admission.

Management Entrance Exams:

ATMA – AIMS Test For Management Admission.
CEMAT – Commonwealth Executive MBA & MPA Programmes Admission Test.
CAT – Common Admission Test.
IBSAT – ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test.
IIFT – Indian Institute of Foreign Trade MBA Admission Test.
ICET – Integrated Common Entrance Test.
JMET – Joint Management Entrance Test.
K-MAT – Karnataka Management Aptitude Test.
MAT – Management Aptitude Test.
NAT – National Aptitude Test.
NCHMCT – National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology – Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
NMAT – National Management Aptitude Test.
OPENMAT – Open Management Admission Test – Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
RMAT – Rajasthan Management Admission Test.
SET – Symbiosis Entrance Test for Symbiosis Undergraduate Institutes of SIEC Deemed University.
SNAP – Symbiosis National Aptitude Test.
TANCET – Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test.
WAT – Written Admission Test – Army Welfare Education Society (AWES).
XAT – Xavier Admission Test.

Law Entrance Exams:

CLAT – Common Law Admission Test.
Kerala Law Entrance Examination.
Nalsar Entrance Test.
NLSIU – National Law School of India University Entrance Test.
LSAT – Law School Admission Test, India by LSAC.

Fashion & Technology Entrance Exams:

CEED – Common Entrance Examination for Design.
NID Entrance Exam.
NIFT Entrance Exam.
Pearl Academy of Fashion Entrance Exam.

Film & Television Entrance Exams:

Film and Television Institute of India Entrance Examination.
National School of Drama (NSD) Screening Test.

Advantages of Entrance and Eligibility Examinations

* It develops a self high esteem especially for those who suffer from low morale. If someone feels or actually has given just satisfactory Board Examinations, he / she can make up with Entrance Examinations. Success in these raises their self esteem.

* Such Entrance Examinations ensure that only the best minds get the best opportunities.

* Potential students turn into able minded Professionals who in turn help in the development of the country.

* A better performer inspires others to do well owing to the competitive spirit created by the Competitive Scenario.

Disadvantages of Entrance and Eligibility Examinations

* Current trends show that the quality of students taking admissions in IITs is decreasing rapidly since 2005.

* These Examinations have enabled the mushrooming of Coaching Institutes, most of which are more interested in cashing in on the opportunity rather than guiding the students.

* The Coaching Centres are not only making Education a business but they also teach short cuts which do enable a student to pass the Examination but are short of the proper knowledge associated with purpose of Entrance Examinations. In the end aspirants maybe good students but not good professionals because they don’t know the basics of their job-at-hand.

* These Examinations become an extra source of pressure for the students who are already dealing with the competitive environment in all spheres. This pressure can lead to total loss or lack of interest in studies. However some succumb to pressure and seek upon taking their lives or abusing themselves.

* Cases of Psychological illness over the years has increased amongst the youth of today. They have to deal with so much these days like going to school, doing homework, preparing for weekly or monthly tests, going for extra Coaching for weak subjects and so on. In such an environment there is no scope for sports, health activities or simply fun based activities. As such the physical health also suffers in the form of various ailments.

After the technical fiasco, with what is making the Common Admission Test (CAT) aspirants restless is the declaration of results.

However, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have finally announced to upload the CAT score-cards on February 28, 2010, but the authorities are again not sure of the exact time of declaration.

Officials from the CAT office have, although assured of the declaration of results on Sunday.

The journey for these aspirants however, does not culminate with the CAT score-cards rather, it is the beginning of their pursuit to secure a seat in the prestigious IIMs.

The shortlisted candidates, after receiving a letter from the IIMs will have to appear for the second phase of the admission procedure, which comprises of group discussion, personal interview and essay writing.

Common Admission Test (CAT) is for students who want to pursue Post Gradute level Management Degree from world renowned IIM’s. With Growing Reputation of IIM’s in the world for management education and emergence of powerful alumni for IIM’s in the Global Corporate sector made IIM’s a destination to dream for all students aspiring for managerial studies in India. It is an entrance exam for students who want to pursue Post Graduate level Management Degree from world renowned IIM’s. Performance in Common Admission Test or CAT, followed by Group Discussions and Personal Interviews, serves as the basis for admission. Apart from the IIM’s, a candidate can take admission in many other business schools with a CAT score.
Courses

PGP (Post Graduate Program in Management) – IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, RGIIM Shillong
PGP-ABM (Post Graduate Program in Agri-Business Management) – IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow
PGSEM (PGP in Software Enterprise Management) – IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta
PGP-PGDCM (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Aided Management) – IIM Calcutta
PGPPM (Post Graduate Program in Public Policy and Management) – IIM Bangalore
Ex-PGP (Post Graduate Program in Management for Executives) – IIM Indore
FPM (Fellow Program in Management i.e. equivalent to Ph.D) – IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow.

Eligibility

The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks. In case of the SC and ST, a minimum of 45% mark is sufficient.

Eligibility for Special Courses
PGP (Post Graduate Program in Management) – The candidate must have a Bachelors Degree, with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. In case of SC and ST, 45% marks, is the minimum.

PGP-ABM (Post Graduate Program in Agri-Business Management in IIM Ahmadabad) – The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Agriculture Sciences or in Agriculture-related disciplines, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. The minimum mark is 45% in case of the candidates belonging to SC/ ST or Persons with Disability (PWD) category.

Or

The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.

PGSEM (PGP in Software Enterprise Management) – The candidate must have a Bachelors degree from a recognized university along with a minimum of two years of work in the software industry.

PGPPM (Post Graduate Program in Public Policy and Management) -  Apart from eligible Government Officials, PGPPM is also open to Civil society functionaries, mid career executives belonging to PSUs and Corporate Undertakings and other individuals with minimum 7 years of professional experience.

PGDCM (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Aided Management) – The candidate must have a Bachelors Degree, with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. In case of SC and ST, 45% marks, is the minimum.

Ex-PGP (Post Graduate Program in Management for Executives) – The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. The minimum mark required is 45% in case of the candidates belonging to SC/ ST or Persons with Disability (PWD) category. The candidate should also have a minimum of 5 years of managerial/ entrepreneurial/ professional experience. Work experience obtained only after graduation will be considered.

PGP-ABM (PGP in Agri-Business Management in IIM Lucknow) – A Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science / Agricultural Engineering or allied subjects with at least 50% marks (45% in case of SC/ST/PWD category) or equivalent CGPA from any of the recognized Universities.

Or

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification obtained by the candidate with a minimum of 50% marks (45% in case of SC/ST/PWD category). He/she must entail a minimum of three years of education after completing Higher Secondary schooling or equivalent with at least two years experience or strong interest in the field of Agriculture or allied sector.
Examination Pattern

Common Admission Test (CAT) is multiple-choice based entrance exam, with negative marking for wrong answers. It comprises of three sections, which span the domains of arithmetical problem solving, geometry, statistics, data interpretation, logical reasoning, puzzles, and English language skills. Ever year, changes are also made in the total number of questions and the time duration of CAT.