Maths has never been your strong point and you are nervous about how you will fare in the Common Admission Test 2005.
CAT trainers ARKS Srinivas and Rahul Reddy of T.I.M.E suggested this strategy to tackle Math during a chat with Get Ahead readers on November 19: Give about 35 odd minutes to Maths. Whichever question is familiar and you think that you can do it within a minute, do it or else skip that question. The idea is to be able to come to the end of the section and not repent later on about all the easy questions missed!
ARKS Srinivas is the director of T.I.M.E, Mumbai, and an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta. He has an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication from Osmania University and has worked with Maruti Udyog Limited in Gurgoan, Delhi and Kolkata before joining T.I.M.E., Hyderabad, as the director of the CAT course. Teaching is his passion and he has been training students in CAT for the last eight years.
Rahul Reddy is an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta. After working with Hindustan Lever and Merck Electronics, he set up T.I.M.E.'s Kolkata branch.
Here is the transcript:
Part II: Tips for tough questions
geagorge: hi brig, can you tell me to get a percentile of 95+ what should be my individual sectional attempts
rahulreddy: Hi, Rahul here. Scores vary with different levels. Last year, something like 48 would have been enough. Sectionwise scores can't be planned, so divide your time wisely and do your best.
karan: hello sir, what is the minimum percentile score to get a call from a good b-school
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Karan. At every percentile level, there are good B-Schools available. So don't worry about the percentile, maximise the scores!
warped: Hi, how is the CAT preparation going? Am very nervous
ARKS Srinivas: This is a familiar situation. Just about all of the 1.7 lakh students writing CAT tomorrow are undergoing the same nervousness. Relax!
VV: sir what to do inthe last 15 20 minutes before the actual test starts.?
rahulreddy: Hi, the question paper would be given 10-15 minutes early. Read the instructions, check the number of sections and one mark and two mark sub-sections if any and plan your strategy.
OneInchAtATime: hi rahul.. are u he moderator
rahulreddy: Yeah, this is Rahul Reddy, director of T.I.M.E. Kolkata. I will be around for the next one hour, answering any queries you might have.
OneInchAtATime: Mr Srinivas.. i can finish VA in 22 mins... how shud i divide the rest of the time over 2 sections
ARKS Srinivas: Hi, if you are talking about VA/ RC in 22 minutes -- that is very, very decent! But if it is only Verbal, then you probably have to cut that down to 18 minutes to be able to give some time to RC too.
Grakesh: can u guide me what is the procedure i have to be follow to give CAT exam after B.com., complete.
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Grakesh, if you are completing B Com next year, you can apply for the same next July/ August and appear next November.
pankaj123456789: sir, wht shd b the least score to get thrugh top 15 b school
rahulreddy: Hi, for the institutes under CAT -- 99 percentile, IIMs; 97+ - NITIE, MDI; 90+ - SP Jain, IMT, UBS, etc; 85-90 - IMI, TAPMI, FORE, KJ Somaya, IISWBM, etc.
marata: i heard tomm CAT 2005 exam is not there, is it postpont?
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Marata, that was wrong information in the Maharastra Times.
samy: hello sir wht can i do before the exam
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Samy, I guess this is the time to unwind. You may still go through the formulae, but do not overdo it for the day!
OneInchAtATime: Rhul... if i get a overall percentile of 98.8 , and accuracies of 91 75 and 75 in 3 sections, what r my chances
rahulreddy: Hi, 75 would be too low. Sectional cut-offs for IIMs would be 85-88 percentile.
kshitij: hi, wat should i have for the breakfast tomorrow.. haa just kiddin. what's your advice on attempting differential sections??
rahulreddy: Good question. One markers first for all sections. Spend 20-25 minutes on them, solving all the easy questions and then attempt selected questions in the two mark area.
nelah: whether is it sure how hard we prepare will it help for us to pass or we need any extra coaching for this exam
rahulreddy: Hi Nelah. As you are aware, it's a very competitive exam. Every mark matters. So hard work + guidance + good strategy + help from God all matter. But work before you pray.
catasp: i havent seen cat2004 shall isolve it now
ARKS Srinivas: Won't make any difference. Don't put pressure on yourself by solving an exam today.
VV: sir what to do in the last 10 15 minutes of the test?
ARKS Srinivas: Divide your time in such a way that you are clear about what you would do even in the last 15 minutes. One strategy would be 35 minutes each for each of the sections and the last 15 minutes for that area which you are best at.
OneInchAtATime: no Srinivas..i finish entire English section in 22 mins.. and have above 75 % accuracy
ARKS Srinivas: In fact, I would say go upto 45 minutes for QA to ensure the cut-off. All the best!
OneInchAtATime: MR SRINIVAS.. MY PROBLEM IS BASICALLY MATHS... I CAN HANDLE ENGLISH AND DI EASILY.. PLS ADVISE ME ON STRATEGY KEEPINGTHIS IN MIND
ARKS Srinivas: Hi, I guess what you need to do still is give about 35 odd minutes to maths. Keep reading the questions coolly. Whichever question is familiar and you think that you can do it within a minute, do it or else skip that question. The idea is to be able to come to the end of the section and not repent later on all the easy questions missed!
Roopesh: hi...if one faces some problems in one section but performs well above par in others, then what do u advise him to do at this stage? Should he take calculated risks or should he just let it be?
ARKS Srinivas: This is again a normal problem. What we would recommend is that you give some time definitely to that section which is a problem. Our bet is, when you do that section with no expectation, you tend to do much better. Also, if it happens to be a QA or DI, then all you would need for a cut-off is 10-12 marks.
OneInchAtATime: RAHUL sory i meant 75 accuracy.. i got 84 %ile in maths..95 in DI and 98 in VA
rahulreddy: Hi Ok. 84 is marginal. Might still get calls from 1-2 IIMs. A couple of marks more in Quant and everything's cool.
SumitKumar: Hi Arks .... tell me whats the minimum percentile in VA at which we can get a call from A
ARKS Srinivas: Actually Sumit, it is very difficult to judge that alone. It would be an overall percentile. The there is your work ex, marks etc. However, a safe score in CAT 2004 would have been 18+ (depending of course on the overall).
rishab: i scored 97 percentile last time and i did not get calls fm any IIMs. I have worked hard this time around, but pls clarify : are their sectional cut-offs in CAT
ARKS Srinivas: Yes Rishab, there will be some sectional cut-offs as well as overall cut-offs.
pankaj123456789: sir this is my first attp without any preparation . can i expect a score of 100 percetile
rahulreddy: Hi. Some of the 100 percentiles last year were in their first attempts. But what finally matters is whether you get into the top B-Schools. I am sure you won't complain if you get in IIM-A with a little less than 100 percentile.
Anshuman: Hi Rahul I'm a 3rd year student of IIT kharagpur...I'll be appearing in CAT'06...will the TIME faculty come over from kolkata to teach us in the weekends?
rahulreddy: Hi Anshuman. As we speak, T.I.M.E. people are on the IIT campus registering students for CAT 2006. Check your hostel number. Call 98305 70468 and speak to Shankaresh Banerjee.
pulkit: i am in 3rd year enginering and i am confused as to should i go in for cat or gre..as in i just wanna be settled well...and earn lots
rahulreddy: Hi Pulkit. Why can't you plan for both? Depending on the university that you get in US and the level of B-Schools that you get here, you can make a great choice.
cooltarun: hi sir.. I want to check with you your opinion about the younger IIMs like IIM-K and IIM-I. If one gets a call from them, should one go there or the institutes like MDI, NMIMS, JB, Symbiosis are better than these IIMs? I understand that this is a tricky question, but I would like to know your genuine opinion(s)
rahulreddy: Hi, this is a indeed a tricky question, but the wrong thing to worry about a day before CAT. Get admission into as many of the top B-Schools as you can and then we will help you choose.
nara: I have a International PhD and 34 now. Can I appear for CAT for doing MBA in IIMs.
ARKS Srinivas: Yes.
cataspirant: sir, ur not answering my questions
ARKS Srinivas: Hi, can you please ask the question again?
mohit: hi plz tell me what to do at the last day
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Mohit. Actually, you should do nothing. Maybe watch a movie. T.I.M.E. is going to be on CNBC at 2:30 pm as well as 6:30 pm giving the last minute tips. Also, DD is carrying a programme on CAT as we talk!
pulkit: can a person try for both gre and cati mean is the preparation much different i want to give both a shot what is your advice..please reply
rahulreddy: The preparation is different, though a few things are common. But it is easily possible to do both if you are talking about CAT 2006 and GRE sometime in the next year.
tushar: hi sir ,i want to know that should i go through any particular things right now bcoz i am not willing to study right now,so basically what should i do.
rahulreddy: Hi Tushar. Light practice, just to feel good and keep in form. Otherwise just chill out and relax. Watch cricket, take a long drive, visit a mall.
taj_rocks: Hi sir,I have been scoring around 48- 55 in my mocks , Wat are he colleges i should be aiming at.
rahulreddy: Hi, two to three colleges in the top 10 other than IIMs, 4-5 in the next level should do. All the best.
pinky: hi srks sir iam samy as well as pinky--anyway i am vamshi ,s sister who is studying in iim kolkata --wht didi u r students do in last minutes
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Pinky, you mean of the exam? I would say you should do whatever you think you are good at. As for the last day, just go out with friends. Discuss anything but CAT for some time and go home sleep early and be ready!
cooltarun: hi sir.. I would also like to know if the IIMs have preference for people with/without work-ex. I heard that IIM-A and IIM-B prefer freshers more to experienced people. Is this true? Can people with work exp not expect to get calls from these IIMs?
rahulreddy: Hi Tarun, the actual work ex fresher ratios for different IIMs vary from year to year. Overall, the ratio is around 50-50. So freshers have a pretty good chance.
cochinjay: me having 4 yrs of tech experience and now 31 yrs old .Is it wrong to try the CAT2006.
ARKS Srinivas: Actually, it is perfect to do that!
manish: hi i m 2nd year engineering student and i m really confused to judge myself whether i can or cant .... if i really wanna do pre. what should i do and should i
ARKS Srinivas: Tell yourself you can/ you will. Don't think. Just do! You would succeed.
catasp: is a bpo job after doing mech. engineering considered as a -ve
rahulreddy: Hi, any job experience is +ve. What we would need to do in the forms as well as interviews is to clearly explain the learning from the job.
rishi: sir what should b the scores in diferent sections quant DI nd Verbal+RC so as to b on the safer side (to get a call frm IIMs)
rahulreddy: Hi, based on last three years, QA 12, RC/ VA 18, DI 12. These are safe minimum (cutoff + 2 marks). But to get good overall score, you need to go well beyond in at least one section.
pruthi: air approach to DI?section
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Pruthi, divide your time into slots of four/ five minutes each and attempt the sets. If you are not understanding any set, skip. This way you can attempt around 8 to 10 sets. In each set, if you get on an average 1.5 to 2 marks, you can score an overall of 15 to 20 marks.
abb: I am an ITT JEE topper. how tough would CAT be for mee
ARKS Srinivas: It is a different exam. However, I expect you would be very good at CAT too. Only issue would be English. If that is good, you can crack CAT too!
dhawan: hi sir. i have wanna know that to which i can apply now . i mean after 20 nov.plz suggest the institutes among top 20.
ARKS Srinivas: Check with us after the exam is over as you would know the exact marks. Or you can mail your marks to info@time4education.com for suggestions.
mgmtguru: PLZ REPLY!!!sir i asked this que yesterday also but did not receive any reply. what is the required %ile for PGDCM(IIM C) and PGSEM(IIM B)?
ARKS Srinivas: PGDCM and PGP will not have much of a difference in terms of percentile cut-off, 99 percentile in general. For PGSEM, it can go down to 95 percentile.
abb: I am an ITT JEE topper. how tough would CAT be for mee
rahulreddy: Hi Abb, you should have a good chance. However, till you try you wouldn't know. So borrow on or two mock CATs from friends and try it. Based on my experience of training students at IIT Kharagpur over the last three years, there is only partial correlation between JEE ranks and CAT performance. Also, English becomes critical.
pruthi: sir wahat would a score of 36 in last years cat - percentile be
ARKS Srinivas: 92 percentile+.
Vaidya2: Sir please reply ,does attempting cat for for 3 times spoile chance of getting into IIM?
ARKS Srinivas: No.
raj_me: Sir plz respond - Sir, I have 3 years of work experience in an Operations & Maintenance Job which is purely technical. Is that considered valid work ex for Management education ?
ARKS Srinivas: Yes. VERY much so!
manav: SIR WHAT SHOULD BE UR ADVICE FOR A DAY SHEDULE NOW?
ARKS Srinivas: It is 1.30 pm. Have a good lunch. Sleep for an hour. Go out in the evening. See the cricket match if India is doing well. Make sure that you keep your hall ticket, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, watch ready. And chill out!
mgmtguru: Shd i apply to SCMHRD/SIBM keeping in mind i have 2.5 work ex
ARKS Srinivas: Yes
abb : should i choose IIM L or XLRI
rahulreddy: Hi Abb, get admission offers from both and then we discuss. Mail me at rahul.reddy@time4education.com.
abb: should i choose IIM L or XLRI
ARKS Srinivas: Actually you should decide after you get both. Why aren't you looking for IIM-A?
litu: should i go for ximb,if i get the chance
ARKS Srinivas: Yes, it is a good institute. Check what else you have and you can decide.
dilip: hi,rahul. I 'm an engg grad of 91 batch. i want to pursue mba after more than 14 yrs of work-ex in software, presently at a senior position. I 'm keen to take it up either at top b-schools in india or usa/uk. Given the present responsibilities, I doubt whether I'll be able to take up CAT/ GMAT. Can I get admissions w/o the entrance tests? I can take up the course w/o scholarships or assistance on self-sustaining basis. Please advise.
rahulreddy: Hi, with your work experience there are a quite a few options. ii. Part-time MBA ii. 1 year full-time ISB, SP Jain, IIM-A iii. GMAT and US B-Schools. Without exams, you could look at part time MBA programmes at top institutes and also look at industry-sponsored seats in some of the management programmes.
manav: PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ RESPOND
ARKS Srinivas: Hi Manav, I think I did!
vickey: this is for the fourth time i m repeating the question please answer.PLZ REPLY!!!sir what is required score for TAPAI, can you give me the break up with lower side in english
ARKS Srinivas: TAPMI will require a score upwards of 90 percentile. English should be around 16+ for last year's exam. This year, it could be in the same range or a mark or two more.
prince: sir , can i join any institute just for gd/ pi & for advice for selection of schools & process for the same . I did not joint any institute for cat preparation
ARKS Srinivas: Yes, you can! All the best.
Sreeram: i think we hav to repeat the ques many times or write in CAPS to get ur attention!!!!
ARKS Srinivas: Hi sreeram, we are very sorry, the fact that there are so many questions makes it a little difficult
viswanath: Hi SIR,I have 2 years software experience. I have applied for MDI, NITIE & SP Jain. Which other colleges under CAT come under this genus. I would also like to know whether it will be a wise decision to apply for XIMB, IMT.
ARKS Srinivas: None. XIMB and IMT are good.
Sreeram: hi i finished BE this yr. now joined s/w co. i'm taking CAT this time jus 2 get an idea. I plan 2 do a full fledged prep next yr. I hav 2 questions.Is 1 to 1.5 yrs gud for IIMs? and How effective will the weekend courses in TIME be compared to the regular course?
ARKS Srinivas: 1.5 years is GOOD. Weekend a well as regular will have exactly same inputs!
Sreeram: hi i finished BE this yr. now joined s/w co. i'm taking CAT this time jus 2 get an idea. I plan 2 do a full fledged prep next yr. I hav 2 questions.Is 1 to 1.5 yrs gud for IIMs? and How effective will the weekend courses in TIME be compared to the regular course?
rahulreddy: Hi Sriram1-1/2 year programme is very effective. So plan for CAT 2006. Weekend courses are as good as regular. However, your practice at home should be everyday rather than weekends only
tariq: can you recommend some medicines for reducing nervousness
rahulreddy: No medicines today. It might affect your peformance. Instead divert your mind cricket, movie -- may I suggest Ek Khiladi Ek Hasina or Harry Potter?
nitin: sir most of the time i end up giving 50 mins for quant 40 min for verbal and 30 mins for di.....i get a good score in quant in mock cats...but every time di score goes down.....so what is best approach to clear di cut off
rahulreddy: Hi, QA to 45 and DI to 35 minutes should solve problem.
pruthi_ : sir i hav a prob selecting the right set, should i read evry set nd then decide wether it is doable or not or 1st look at just by its appearence and guess its easy or not nd move ahead...?
ARKS Srinivas: Spend about a minute. If you understand it, continue otherwise ditch it.
RamakanthReddy: Hi sir, Were there any Pre CAT calls given by SP Jain this year? Also, since the pattern of application has changed is there going to be a change in the selection criterion of the institute. Finally, If am givin both CAT and XAT will the best of the two be considered or just one of them? Thanks.
ARKS Srinivas: Not yet. As for which is best, I guess you can decide after your CAT exam. If that goes well, put CAT otherwise the other.
raj_me_1: Sir thanks for answering my query. Is management education in the US/UK worth the kind of investment that goes into it ?
ARKS Srinivas: Yes, but you have to choose the right schools
abcd: HOW do you rate MBA from IIT's especially IIT mumbai, delhi and kharagpur
ARKS Srinivas: They are pretty good. Can be rated in the TOP 20.
Part II: Tips for tough questions
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