CAT -
The Common Admission Test to the six IIMs is also the entrance test for few other top B-Schools such as Indian Institute of Management (IIM), at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode. Many other institutes like, MICA, Nirma Institute of Management, S.P. Jain Institute, also draw out their candidates based on the performance in CAT. CAT tests your skills in five broad areas viz.
Verbal ability and reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Quantitative skills
Data Interpretation
Analytical and Logical reasoning.

The test comprises between 150 to 200 objective type questions and is usually divided into three to four sections. Each question has a question statement followed by four alternate answer choices and the candidate has to choose the best answer for each of the questions and mark it on a special Optical Reader answer sheet.

Over the years, the number of questions being asked in CAT has been decreasing steadily. While the early 90s witnessed 180 to 200 questions, the late 90s, specifically CAT 1999 and CAT 2000 had 165 questions each. CAT 2001, CAT 2002 and CAT 2003 had only 150 questions each and these 150 questions were divided into three sections of 50 questions each.

The duration of the test is of 120 minutes. This literally translates to answering a CAT question in 48 seconds. Most successful aspirants do not attempt anything more than 120 plus questions. And quite a lot of them attempt between 85 and 100 questions. The key to success, therefore, lies in two important parameters
1. The accuracy or strike rate

Each correct question carries 1 positive mark, while each incorrect question carries negative marks. Though, it is not clearly known what the negative mark, it would not be way off the mark to assume it to be one-third of a mark. Hence, it is important to get a strike rate of over 85% – that is reduce the number of negatives.
2. Smart Selection

As it is clear that you will not be generally able to attempt all 150 question, and you skip between 30 and 50 questions, key to success lies in selecting questions properly. Remember, every correct question carries the same 1-mark and each incorrect answer carries a one-third negative. Hence, there are no kudos, nobel prizes or awards waiting for attempting the tough questions. Be smart to choose, the easiest of the questions and the ones that you have practised 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.

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.

The IIM’s in India are:

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Indian Institute of Management, Bannerghatta High Rd, Bangalore-560076
http://www.iimb.ernet.in
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Indian Institute of Management, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-380015
http://www.iimahd.ernet.in
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Indian Institute of Management, REC Campus, Calicut-673601, Kerala
http://www.iimk.ac.in
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Indian Institute of Management, Joka, Kolkata-700027
http://www.iimcal.ac.in
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Indian Institute of Management, Sector I, Aliganj Extension, Lucknow-226022
http://www.iiml.ac.in
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Indian Institute of Management, Rajendra Nagar, Indore 452012
http://www.iimidr.ac.in

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