Hyderabad experts predict easy CAT this year

Updated on: Saturday, October 22, 2011

Common Admission Test (CAT) -2011 is expected to be easier than that of the previous ones, experts from the city predicted on the eve of the examination. Until last year, time management was a major problem for candidates but the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), this year, have divided the test into two segments of 70 minutes each containing 30 questions.

Although CAT does not throw up many surprises in terms of question types, faculty members at coaching centres said that the section dealing with verbal and logical reasoning could have a different set of questions this year.

However, compared to previous years, the number of students taking the test this year has gone down. Last year, over 10,000 students from the state appeared for CAT but this year the number hovers around 8,000. In fact, even the number of test centres in the state has been cut down.

CAT will now be held at three centres in the state (two in Hyderabad and one in Vizag). The IIM test centres in Hyderabad are Prometric Test Centre, Banjara Hills, and MLR College of Engineering, Dundigal. On the first day, the examination will be held in two shifts, from 10 am to 12.20pm and from 3.15pm to 5.35pm. This year the tests will be held from October 22 to November 18.

Experts attribute the drop in the number of candidates taking the test to lack of interest among fresh graduates. "The IIMs have indicated that work experience matters during admissions. So, graduates prefer to work for a while before appearing for CAT to have a better chance," said D Naresh Reddy, director, Abhyaas coaching centre. Also, a steep rise in the IIM fee structure is proving prohibitive for students. "The fee structure of the top B-schools have gone up from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 13 lakh in the past," said an official at a coaching centre.

Experts said that candidates should make sure that they reach the test centres one-and-a-half hours before the test for verification. "Students who have had enough preparation and who are familiar with online tests will be able to score well," said K Ramnath, course director, TIME coaching centre.

Times of India

Hyderabad experts predict easy CAT this year

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