If you are one of the many students who are currently in the process of taking up CAT, then get ready for some tough competition. According to Prometric, the sale of vouchers and registration for Common Admission Test (CAT) 2012 has gone up marginally by four per cent to 2,15,000 this year as compared to 2,05,000 registrations in 2011. Prof SSS Kumar, CAT Convener 2012, IIM-Kozhikode, explains, “There are a few factors leading to this upturn — improving economic conditions and the encouraging placements at IIMs despite difficult macro conditions and IIMs making clear their respective admission policies well in advance so that IIM aspirants can make an informed choice.”
This year IIMs have witnessed a marginal increase in the number of female candidates, with 28 per cent of the registrations as compared to 27 per cent last year. Ramnath Kanakadandi, course director at CAT, T.I.M.E. says, “The increase is marginal and also due to better market and job conditions, and a more favourable approach towards computer-based testing.” The pattern of the test is the same as last year with two sections — Quantitative Ability/Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability/Logical Reasoning with 70 minutes for each. Like last year, students cannot move between these sections. “The ultimate objective of CAT from the past had been to identify future business leaders, and this objective holds good for CAT 2012 too. We have already disclosed the mandatory test details in our portal, www.catiim.in, and I request CAT aspirants to go through them thoroughly. I also want to caution them to not be entrapped by speculations about CAT contents or patterns floating on some dubious websites,” says Kumar.
Kumar says, “Modern day business is continuing to become more complex hence there is a need for well trained management graduates.” Kanakadandi adds, “In a scenario of economic slump, an MBA degree will be the strongest ray of hope as it offers diverse career options.
— deepshikha@newindianexpress.com