The CAT in retrospect

"FAILURE should not deter anyone from pursuing their dreams, nor should one's age," said Vipul Bhatia (name changed) who is working with a software firm since the past four years. He has secured a 99.5 percentile in the recent CAT exam, his third attempt, and has received calls from all six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
   When asked about the tips to crack the CAT, Vipul placed hard work and dedication above everything else. He added: "Anyone who wishes to crack the CAT should work on his fundamentals and basics. Besides, any problem can be solved if students regularly assess their progress by taking mock tests."
   Many others also believe that last-minute details can also make a difference. "For me, the options provided are more important than the questions. Students should attempt the 'quantitative aptitude' and 'data interpretation' sections in the end. The 'English' section should be attempted first as the comprehension passages need a fresh mind," suggested Ankit Sehgal, a working professional at Watson Wyatt Worldwide. He got a 99.92 percentile.
   For Vaishali Aggarwal, a student of IIT-Roorkee, a clear objective for taking the exam is just as important. But, as far as practice is concerned, she emphasises on a regular assessment of one's strengths and weaknesses. Adding to this, Nidhi Gurman, a student of BITS-Pilani, stated: "The simple formula to work on equations is learning Vedic mathematics. Mixed fractions can be simplified into improper fractions.These tricks help a lot in saving time." Nidhi has secured a 97.7 percentile.
   But besides having secured high percentiles, these prospective management students still have a few more hurdles to cross. They are now preparing to clear their group discussions (GDs) and interviews at the Indian Social Institute. They were all present at the mock GDs and interviews organised recently by the Triumphant Institute of Management Education ( TIME), to be groomed for the final selections.
   Elaborating on the importance of such mock interviews, Ulhas Vairagkar, director, TIME, stated: "There are certain dos and don'ts for any interview. A mock session helps students understand what to say and what not to, besides helping them compel the interviewer to ask them questions in the field they are good at."