For the past 33 years, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have been conducting the Common Admission Test (CAT) in a paper-pencil format. But this year, the most important examination of India which promises to make best managers of the country took a new avatar - it went online and became a Computer-Based Test.

Giving CAT 2009 did not require one to be a computer geek; all that was needed was the basic understanding of mouse and keyboard usage. But to the dismay, the biggest Management exam Online CAT 2009 is now being written off as a foolish step.
We were apprehensive about the problems coming with CAT 2009 and we did write about it. Read here CAT 2009 to come with problems.

The test which is scheduled from  Nov 28 and Dec 7 in 32 cities at 105 testing centers is connected to a main server. But the first-ever online CAT was cancelled at various centers in Chennai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune.

Reason:  Server Breakdown!

MeraCareerGuide.Com talked to an employee of “Prometric- The Company who is wholly responsible for conducting these tests.”   More than 2.41 lakh students are appearing for the first online CAT test across the country in span of 10 days and there is no major outbreak of server crash, On the first day of CAT online the number of crash reported came to be around two thousand !! ( Hmm.....Do you think its a small number !!! )  

 Few people are signing off saying “India can’t even do an online exam”  to all those individuals, BITSAT, the first ever online exam in India takes the crown and glory of being first ever completely computerized exam which went flawless from its very first execution and remains untainted.
 

Online CAT 2009 

Q.Can I take the test from any computer?

The Test Day:

All the Best !  

With CAT ( Common Admission Test)  going online, there is new growing concern among MBA aspirants. Like every scenario, online CAT also has two sides for MBA aspirants– advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, there seem to be more drawbacks than advantages. We will give you a brief picture of the unpleasant side that could be cause with the famous CAT going online.  

• Since the test will be conducted on different days, each test day presenting a new question paper, the authorities will have to ensure that the level of difficulty in each test paper is same. (a single mark can pass you or fail you)
• The past test pattern that had numerous questions requiring long calculation may not suit the online test format. (In that case, in the online test, you will have to mange the mouse and also the paper).
• Although computers have become highly popular in India but yet not so ubiquitous that every CATer would be skilled in its usage. Remember, a lot of CAT test takers come from villages and remote areas where computer skills are still not available. Lack of skill in computer usage might pose a problem to these students, since their focus might not be the same as it is when using pen and paper to solve a question.

Yes, quiet a number of difficulties. But relax, we @meracareerguide is always there to help you in any way we can. We give you the access to One-Learn, a computer adaptive based test interface, where in you could take solve practice papers, take demo test and One-Learn Computer Adaptive will constantly monitor your performance and give you the right feedback depending. The feedback will help you understand your area of weaknesses and thus let you improve with each test.

So, what re you waiting for? Log in at One-Learn and make the most of it and master your weaknesses.    

All the Best !!  

Every year CAT ( Common Admission Test) takes a new avatar, but this times it’s new from is going to be completely different. Instead of paper and pen you will use computer and keyboard. This online method for CAT 2009 may not see much change in the question paper pattern, but methodology employed to answer the questions will need to be worked upon.

For that you don’t have to be a computer geek; all you will need is the basic understanding of mouse and keyboard usage.  

Take practice test everyday, and then spend a little time analyzing the test. The major parameters to keep in mind while analyzing the test are 

Concentration:  

A high degree of concentration is also not easy for first time test takers. This may affect the test. Comprehensive tests make us to sit for two hours at a stretch and we increase our attentive span. 

Speed:

See if your speed is better than previous tests.  (If you do not understand basics you cannot apply them to tougher problems. This might take more time to solve a question and thus reducing the speed. ) 

Time Management:

Time management is highly important to successfully crack any comprehensive test. So you should manage time and allocate certain time to each section depending on your strength and weakness.  

Accuracy:

 Accuracy is the number of correct questions out of attempted questions. If accuracy is not high, you need brush up the chapters again.(those which are reducing the accuracy).  

We have put up daily teasers for you to take advantage of it. Also, you will find archieve for 3 days to help you take in-depth analysis.

Take the test every alternate day, and help yourself crack CAT. 

All the Best !  

All MBA aspirants, gear up! It's time to begin preparation for various MBA entrance tests. But before that you need to register yourself for the upcoming tests by filling up and submitting respective forms. MeraCareerGuide gives you a list of few MBA tests and the important dates related to those.

CAT 2009 For all IIMs and 30+ institutes

Starting date for CAT voucher Sale  :       31 August 2009
Last Date for CAT voucher Sale       :       1st October 2009
Test Date                                    :       28th Nov, 2009 to 7th Dec, 2009 (10AM-1PM)                                                                                                                   

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune

Last date for online registration        : 19th December, 2009
 

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)

Last Date for sale of prospectus and submission of application form     :  3rd September 2009   
(Written)Exam Date    : 22nd November 2009 (Time: 10 A.M to12 P.M)
 
  
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

Test Date: 06 Sept, 2009 (Reporting Time 9.00 AM)
   

XAT For XLRI (Jamshedpur School of Management), XIM, XISS, LIBA
Form Availability                           : Last week of Aug, 2009 -last week of Nov, 2009

Last date for form Submission         : First week of Dec, 2009

Test Date                                   : First week of Jan, 2010
 
  
We will keep you posted with more information on MBA. Cheers!