This article was first published 13 years ago

'CAT has become a test of accuracy than speed'

Last updated on: November 11, 2011 12:46 IST

In an online chat with readers on November 3, Vinayak Kudva, head of IMS Learning addressed reader queries related to cracking the Common Admission Test and other b-school exams.

For those who missed the live chat, here's the unedited transcript.

faizalk asked, hello sir, is narsee monjee better than IIMs? what are the cut offs for both of them?

Vinayak Kudva answers, at 2011-11-03 16:16:05Hi, IIM A,B,C,K,I,L are definitely better than NMIMS.Even some of the other IIMs are better than NMIMS. But NMIMS ranks in the top 20- Bschool list in India. The IIMs accept the score of an entrance test called CAT. In NMAT, THERE ARE 3 SECTIONS: Language Skills (32 Questions)(22 minutes); Quant (48 Questions) (60 minutes); Logical Reasoning (40 Questions)(38 minutes). For details about CAT analysis, visit "First Day, First Show" on www.imsindia.com For details about NMAT visit https://www.imsindia.com/myims/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387&Itemid=100050

Vishal asked, Hi,this time NMAT pattern has slightly changed as compared to last year what will be approximately cut off of NMAT for getting GDPI call?? Also plz suggest some strategy to crack NMAT as we need to attend it section wise??

Vinayak Kudva answers, Hi Vishal, This time about 25% of the questions in Nmat are tricky. So it is still a speed based test but some difficult CAT Type Reasoning questions like Groups and Conditionalities have appeared on the test.The cut offs vary from year to year. As far as strategy is concerned, we advise you to manage time well, initially finish solving all the easy questions in each section and then spend time on difficult question. So each section should be done in 3 rounds - First round:All easy questions, so that you also become confident that you have pocketed those marks. Second round - Moderately difficult questions. Third round - Very difficult questions. Do not randomly click on any answer as there are negative marks. When practicising tests, ensure that you do not miss attempting an easy question

sakshi asked, sir what is the difference between CAT and NMAT. which is the toughest of the two?

Vinayak Kudva answers, The CAT is relatively difficult in terms of the areas from where the questions appear and the fact that CAT Tests you on accuracy and how well you know the concepts rather than speed. NMAT, depending on difficulty level, is more of a speed based test like the CET but this time, some difficult CAT Type of Logical Reasoning questions have appeared on NMAT.

devang asked, where can i get last year's papers for cat? should i solve last year papers or new ones in the last one week?

Vinayak Kudva answers, You can revise from IMS Simulated tests and last year papers as well as the CAT 500 Book.IMS is still enrolling students for the CAT 500 question book (just Rs.500)and CAT Testseries (Rs.999 for 12 tests). There are also testpacks at Rs.500 each for tests like CAT, NMAT,SNAP, IIFT, IRMA,XAT etc. Refer www.imsindia.com

vishal.mashkaria@gmail.com asked, Suggest some strategies for NMAT and hw many questions in NMAT we need to get it right for getting GDPI call??

Vinayak Kudva answers, In NMAT, THERE ARE 3 SECTIONS: Language Skills (32 Questions)(22 minutes); Quant (48 Questions) (60 minutes); Logical Reasoning (40 Questions)(38 minutes). Each section should be done in 3 rounds: First round - All easy questions, so that you also become confident that you have pocketed those marks. Second round - Moderately difficult questions. Third round - Very difficult questions. Do not randomly click on any answer as there are negative marks. When practicising tests, ensure that you do not miss attempting an easy question. This is a speed based test, ensure that you maximise your attempts with atleast 85% accuracy.

catquestion asked, what is the highest package offered for mba graduates in finance? which b school is good for pursuing finance in india? what exams should i prepare for?

Vinayak Kudva answers, You can get a salary upto Rs.15 lakhs if you pursue an MBA from IIM A,B,C,K,L,I; XLRI; JBIMS; IIFT; MDI Gurgaon etc. If you have not registered for CAT (the admission test for IIMs and other schools like MDI Gurgaon, NITIE etc) you can appear for SNAP, CET,NMAT,XAT. For information on CAT refer to https://www.imsindia.com/microsite/CAT2011/ For information on deadlines about other tests refer https://www.imsindia.com/options/MBA_notification.htm

pandu asked, how much score do we need to get to get a call from nmims? out of 120 how many questions we need to answer correctly. please do inform for individual sections also. please do answer

Vinayak Kudva answers, You need to attempt atleast 85 percent of the questions with 85 percent accuracy. Do not randomly click on answers because there are negative marks in the NMAT. There are 3 sections with different number of questions and different time durations. Do each section in 3 rounds. Manage time well. First round -All easy questions. Second round - Moderate questions. Last round - Difficult questions. Here you can skip really difficult questions. Pls practise some tough reasoning caselets like Groups and conditionalities, Matrix arrangements, DI caselets. Revise all quant formulae etc.Do not make silly mistakes in grammar and OTHER questions in Language Skills. All the best.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier

'Take the CAT with the full belief that you will do well'

vishal.mashkaria@gmail.com asked, wht section preference do u suggest for NMAT??

Vinayak Kudva answers, There are no section preferences in NMAT. You need to do well on all 3 sections. There are sectional cut offs. For preparation, you need to keep yourself busy taking a NMAT Test every 3 days (IMS has 5 tests for NMAT at just Rs.600). Daily revise all topic areas in Quant.Do atleast 3 R.C. passages, 3 D.I.Sets and 3 Reasoning Sets on a daily basis.

fgh asked, if u earning 5 lakh per month with 2 years of work exp of IT field. Should one should apply Fore type of college.

Vinayak Kudva answers, No, you should aim for IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, MDI Gurgaon, NITIE (if you are an engineer) and IITs (if u r an engineer. If you are not taking CAT, then atleast take XAT,NMAT,SNAP,CET etc. Refer to B-School Notifications on Student Zone at www.imsindia.com

ppsak1 asked, what is the expected pay package after passing from NMIMS.

Vinayak Kudva answers, The average pay package last year was Rs.11 lakhs

vishal.mashkaria@gmail.com asked, and as far as my knowledge goes NMAT doesnt have negative marking kindly confirm??

Vinayak Kudva answers, Yes, NMAT does not have negative marking.

RV asked, wat is the ranking of IMT Gaziabad

Vinayak Kudva answers, IMT Ghaziabad ranks in the top 20 B-Schools in the country. Admission is through CAT score. But IIMs, MDI Gurgaon, NITIE, IITs accept CAT score and are better than IMT Ghaziabad. Also XLRI, XIM Bhubaneshwar (through XAT) and JBIMS (through CET) are better than IMT Ghaziabad. You can still apply to IMT Ghaziabad. The last years average salary package at IMT Ghaziabad was Rs.8.8 lakhs per annum

sunita asked, last year i scored 91 percentile in CAT , but due to work this year, i will not be able to score much, what shud i do,

Vinayak Kudva answers, Do not be demotivated. Take the CAT with the full belief that you will do well. Also prepare for other tests like XAT, NMAT, IIFT, CET etc. For details on how to prepare visit www.imsindia.com

raumin asked, what should be the last minute preparatipons in cat to get a full confidence in specially quant section?

Vinayak Kudva answers, Kindly revise from each area in Quant: Numbers, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Maths. Also revise logarithms, Progressions, Functions etc. You can revise from IMS CAT 500, IMS Simulated tests and IMS BRMs for Quant. Depending on when you are taking CAT, Pls spend sufficient time on each area of Quant - also revise all Quant formulae 2 days before the actual test date. Everyday also solve 3 R.C.passages, 3 D.I. sets and 3 Reasoning sets for practise. Aim to attempt atleast 24 qyestions in each section of CAT with 85% accuracy.

mukesh asked, sir till 2008 a 33% score in CAT guranteed a 95+ percentile, however now the score needs to be around 50% for this much percentile. Has CAT become easier or the Quality of students taking CAT has improved? Also how much score will gurantee a 99= percentile in cat11?

Vinayak Kudva answers, The CAT has not become easier or difficult but it has definitely changed in structure. This year there are just 2 sections. For 99 percentile, you need to attempt 24 questions in each section with 85 percent accuracy. For 95 percentile, you need to attempt 18 questions with 85 percent accuracy. From 2008 till date, CAT has slowly become a test of accuracy rather than a test of speed as the number of questions has gone down from 75 to 60 in total.