Home MBA in India
Exams and B-schools
Preparation Resources
Ze Kommunity!

New Here? Why not join the community?

Participate in PaGaLGuY MBA Forums and explore over 6 years of knowledge on MBA preparation.
MBA Abroad
Getting through MBA Abroad
Mobile

New Here? Why not join the community?

Participate in PaGaLGuY MBA Forums and explore over 6 years of knowledge on MBA preparation.
PG Apps

New Here? Why not join the community?

Participate in PaGaLGuY MBA Forums and explore over 6 years of knowledge on MBA preparation.
Forum Admission TourNew About Us
Company information
Inzane Culture
Login | Register

Forgot Password?

Close

CAT 2009: is the popularity going down?

by Shivangi Narayan on 20 October 2009
in ,
36 comments

CAT statistics The voucher sale and the registration for CAT 2009 is over and the final figure of the registrations is here. Contrary to the popular belief of the number of CAT applicants crossing the 3 lakh mark this year, the total number of applicants who registered for CAT till October 11, 2009 (also the last date for registration) is 2,41,582.  The total number of vouchers sold were 2,46,912, which means that around five thousand people chose not to register for CAT after buying the voucher which also includes people who bought multiple vouchers due to their confusion with the ‘edit’ option. The number of people taking the CAT has decreased this year. Although we will not know the final number of candidates who eventually take CAT 2009 till after December 7, it will be lower than the 2,46,000 applicants who took it in 2008.

The decrease in numbers can be attributed to CAT 2009 going online. According to Prof Satish Deodhar, convener for CAT 2009, the candidates made an informed decision of taking the CAT due to the whole procedure going online. He says, “we went paperless and requested candidates to visit IIM websites, check eligibilities, decide which programs they are interested in, and then choose to buy CAT vouchers”. The hassle of online registration and an online test might have also kept many first time test takers away. However, the number of applications ‘rejected’ this year due to wrong or incomplete information was zero due to the online registration and the ‘edit’ option (which was  introduced later).

As for the profile of the candidates who registered, engineers still remain the most devoted to CAT. This year too 65 percent of the total registrants belong to the engineering, architecture and technology category. Next highest, but not quite as much are the commerce, economy and management graduates at 23 percent. Female candidates stand at 26 percent and there are 71 percent candidates with more than six months of work experience. Category wise, 82 percent of the candidates are from the General and 11 percent from the OBC (non creamy layer) category.

Update: Of the total number of candidates who have registered, 763 of them belong to the Differentially Able or the DA category. This makes for approximately 0.30 percent of the total number of registrants.

Errata: It was incorrectly stated that 71 percent candidates had more than 6 months or more work experience. The correct figure is that 71 percent candidates had less than or equal to 6 months of work experience.

<p><img class=”ExcerptImage” style=”border: none” src=”http://pagalguy.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/other/CAT-statistics.gif” alt=”CAT statistics” align=”left” /> The voucher sale and the registration for CAT 2009 is over and the final figure of the registrations is here. Contrary to the popular belief of the number of CAT applicants crossing the 3 lakh mark this year, the total number of applicants who registered for CAT till October 11, 2009 (Also the last date for registration) is 2,41,582.  Around 2.5 lakhs that is. The total number of vouchers sold were 2,46,912, which means that around five thousand people chose not to register for CAT after buying the voucher which also includes people who bought multiple vouchers due to their confusion with the ‘edit’ option. The number of people taking the CAT has decreased this year. Although we will not know the final number of candidates who eventually take CAT 2009 till after December 7, it will be lower than the 2,46,000 applicants who took it in 2008.</p>

The following 148 users Say Thank You for this Useful Post:

om.pradhan87 (20-10-2009) , san.rahul99 (20-10-2009) , anoopkumars (20-10-2009) , shanks4mba (20-10-2009) , MAD_FOR_MBA (20-10-2009) , jaidev_iyer (20-10-2009) , shivam07usit (20-10-2009) , TRUEINDIAN (20-10-2009) , sujata19 (20-10-2009) , acumind (20-10-2009) , Poluka Praveen (20-10-2009) , dhirajbhagat (20-10-2009) , rtz123 (20-10-2009) , nikhilctae (20-10-2009) , anshul_mechie (20-10-2009) , gibbythesmart (20-10-2009) , Sahana Kavitha (21-10-2009) , ayush13 (20-10-2009) , RagingBull (20-10-2009) , pk_gt1 (20-10-2009) , betun (20-10-2009) , a$hwini (20-10-2009) , Explorer_Gagan (21-10-2009) , abhay15783 (20-10-2009) , Tom@PG (20-10-2009) , sudarshan.87 (20-10-2009) , RobbyJain (20-10-2009) , caterpilar (20-10-2009) , spirit11 (21-10-2009) , kaarun (21-10-2009) , harisreez (21-10-2009) , Suresh_007new (21-10-2009) , subhajitubun (21-10-2009) , milind86 (21-10-2009) , rinkupgr (21-10-2009) , umesh166 (21-10-2009) , georgeorwell (21-10-2009) , punithkumar (21-10-2009) , YogiAgarwal (21-10-2009) , manickavasagam (21-10-2009) , shivf1 (21-10-2009) , CATch_22 (21-10-2009) , rajaramvarun (21-10-2009) , pritam1988 (21-10-2009) , deeban (21-10-2009) , pardeep luna (21-10-2009) , r11gupta (21-10-2009) , akshay.vannery (21-10-2009) , haritosh (21-10-2009) , vijaydh (21-10-2009) , mythrivarma (21-10-2009) , abhi3010 (21-10-2009) , shrikant0218 (21-10-2009) , natarajmit (21-10-2009) , rbhadauria (21-10-2009) , anirban954 (21-10-2009) , ChinmayaDave (21-10-2009) , manjushaa (21-10-2009) , @bhii (21-10-2009) , dexterousGuy (21-10-2009) , dirty frank (21-10-2009) , anupam2285 (21-10-2009) , vrama.gurubaran (21-10-2009) , karanmaroo (21-10-2009) , shaaam1986 (21-10-2009) , spatwardhan (21-10-2009) , ani.davv (21-10-2009) , vickyb4u (21-10-2009) , ShobhitGarg (21-10-2009) , IIMA aspirant (21-10-2009) , Noqaiya (21-10-2009) , pravinmc (21-10-2009) , katoch (21-10-2009) , ashish abraham (21-10-2009) , abhineetrawat (21-10-2009) , prabin.singh (21-10-2009) , PaceIsAce (21-10-2009) , KrkCATmania (21-10-2009) , abhinavkansal (21-10-2009) , fierymustang (21-10-2009) , randeepsingh (21-10-2009) , gaurav90 (21-10-2009) , resurgent (21-10-2009) , praj17 (21-10-2009) , jitin sharma (21-10-2009) , rabhi85 (21-10-2009) , Arastoic (21-10-2009) , pratee (21-10-2009) , goodman (21-10-2009) , vasav4u (21-10-2009) , R @ J (21-10-2009) , rohitgupta14 (21-10-2009) , black demon (21-10-2009) , kapilpatil89 (21-10-2009) , pranavsurana (21-10-2009) , ankush_coolest (21-10-2009) , kunal1104 (21-10-2009) , fujisan08 (21-10-2009) , tempestous (21-10-2009) , naga25french (21-10-2009) , the confessor (22-10-2009) , animesh9kumar (22-10-2009) , revendar (22-10-2009) , rahulrsanghvi (22-10-2009) , duttamanoj (22-10-2009) , Elscorcho (22-10-2009) , praven35 (22-10-2009) , saTrisha (22-10-2009) , deadlyhunter143 (22-10-2009) , lemasolai (22-10-2009) , vijetshetty (22-10-2009) , vinayfantastic (22-10-2009) , dwai20 (22-10-2009) , onlinearora (22-10-2009) , aligato (22-10-2009) , bharat131 (22-10-2009) , minakshee kumar (22-10-2009) , supriya24 (22-10-2009) , Neha Nair (22-10-2009) , sandy1saha03 (22-10-2009) , ravipandey4u (22-10-2009) , anand_953 (22-10-2009) , lifezcalling (22-10-2009) , shashank3012 (23-10-2009) , leonine (23-10-2009) , dilboy1984 (23-10-2009) , Animeshagarwal (23-10-2009) , Proximus (23-10-2009) , rajaram16 (23-10-2009) , vishalgoel9187 (23-10-2009) , the14u.sree (23-10-2009) , sharmaji555 (23-10-2009) , nick_17in (23-10-2009) , singhankit (24-10-2009) , ank_kumar (24-10-2009) , ChAK_de_fatte (24-10-2009) , ashwinkumardp (25-10-2009) , spy (25-10-2009) , bajajsharad (25-10-2009) , suhansarkar (26-10-2009) , cyborg5021a (26-10-2009) , kafan1986 (27-10-2009) , prakash_miku (27-10-2009) , akshaypirate (27-10-2009) , kunalrayscorpio (27-10-2009) , iamnutty (04-11-2009) , sreechandra (04-11-2009) , KrishanuC (21-11-2009)

Comments (36)

Leave a Reply
shanks4mba
#1 October 20, 2009, 10:22 pm

seems like a dud too me all the hype given to cat…this year the craze has gone down:) I still cant contemplate on how are thy gonna calculate the percentiles!!
Maninder
#2 October 20, 2009, 11:10 pm

“the number of applications ‘rejected’ this year due to wrong or incomplete information was zero due to the online registration and the ‘edit’ option (which was introduced later)” —- is not factual and can not be compared to previous years’ process. Earlier the candidates were supposed to send all the document copies along with application and IIMs used to check thorouly and let only the genuine candidates write the exam.

Now any one who registers with data that clears the min requirements can take the test. However, he can not get admission, if the information furnished does not match the actual information.

This time IIM is not checking any data and is accepting as it is and allowing the candidates to write the exam. Hence ‘Zero’ rejections.

Maninder
Shivangi Narayan
#3 October 20, 2009, 11:29 pm

@Maninder: The number of rejected applications this year is zero and this comes from the CAT authorities themselves. Prof Satish Deodhar, CAT convener has told us that there have been “no application rejections” this year due to the ability of the students to edit information online.
caterpilar
#4 October 20, 2009, 11:57 pm

Thanks Shivangi!!!, for this wonderfull piece of data.

Implications

1.
Numbers of serious applicants gone up isn’t it?
Last year numbers of applicants were approximately same but that count had lots of non-serious applicants as well, which is actually very less this year due to
a) CBT and
b) Lack of trust on private sector (yes an average graduate don’t want to be ditched again in the form an MBA for corporate dreams, first was engineering, so this time people with relatively clear why MBA are appearing)

2.
65% applicants are engineer but if we see top 20 colleges’ average engineer count that must above 65%, that engineers have better chance (65% fighting for more than 65% of seats)

3.
Female applicants are 26% which is normally final count of female candidates, that means its no gain and any loss for them.

4.
71% of the applicants have work-ex more than six months, now some will acquire some 6+ months of work-ex by the time of interview and 8-12 months while joining i.e. people with exactly 0 months of work-ex (freshers) will only be some 20% of total applicants but normally b-schools have 40% of the batch as fresher.
Which straight away means 20% of the applicants are fighting for 40% of the total seats, FRESHERS HAVE MERRY TIME THIS TIME.

5.
11% OBC applicants 27% seats,
7% SC/ST and (15+7.5 = 22.5%) seats.
shivam07usit
#5 October 21, 2009, 12:28 am

these freshers include last time cat givers also .Remember those students whose joining did not came in last year..they are too with 0 yr work ex…
caterpilar
#6 October 21, 2009, 12:48 am

@ shivam, yes but they also fall in fresher’s category i.e. 0 months of work-ex, and as per prometric data they are 20% all in all either (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) pass outs.
rtz123
#7 October 21, 2009, 12:56 am

Hey caterpilar,
nice analysis.. :)
but i presume a suspect underlying assumption in the analysis..past trends may not be reflected in the future..to put it differently, if the institutes are able to find good-quality work-ex ppl, they might shift the trend and batch profile to put in a higher percentage of work-ex ppl in the batch..hopin for the best tho..am a grad wid no work ex waise… :)

msabhi
#8 October 21, 2009, 1:28 am

recession has hit hard and many 2009 BE pass outs will be having no job even after Feb 2010 unlike previous years where many wud have joined some company or the other..
caterpilar
#9 October 21, 2009, 1:41 am

@ rtz123, well picked.
But I am hopefull this time freshers will have more quality than previous years due to quantity of time with them (considering average IQ of freshers is replica of last years, which can easily be presumed).
The count of freshers is decided by industry in good B-Schools, and recesssion has put the focus on freshers not lateral, so could be this time freshers percent may get alift.
rtz123
#10 October 21, 2009, 2:08 am

@caterpilar: thnx mate :)
Another implicit assumption: people applying wid work-ex may not be working right now..some might have taken time off to study 4 mgmt considering the recession is the best time to get back to college..or worst case scenario,they might hv been pink-slipped..(cant say for sure tho)
n btw laterals were for ppl wid work ex >2-4 yrs..ppl between 0-2 yrs might b given weightage..
Newaz, me an eternal pessimist..u might hv guessed already! Stil..hope 4 d best (perpetual contradiction for me!) :)

prfs
#11 October 21, 2009, 6:55 am

Now,I think cut offs would not go up (if not down).
xatiim
#12 October 21, 2009, 8:28 am

@ rtz n caterpillar..gud going.
@shivangi…thx , i just wantd to get those numbers n here it is!
singhankit
#13 October 21, 2009, 9:04 am

only 26 % females….. how much of them are foreigners ????? :P

Akshay Vannery
#14 October 21, 2009, 9:27 am

This takes us one step closer to the edge!!!
Seize the Op with Both PAWS!!!
Rohit Bhadauria
#15 October 21, 2009, 10:38 am

I think cut offs would not go up………….it’s good
pranav@spjimr
#16 October 21, 2009, 12:38 pm

Forget all this analysis guys….just give it your best shot….from experience, I can tell you that the real competitors at CAT, for the top 10-12 B-Schools (IIMs, SP Jain, XLRI, MDI, FMS, NITIE etc.) are not more than 25000. Many people submit the forms, but are not that well prepared. Getting to 90 %ile is not very tough. The real competition is from 95 %ile onwards. So the top 5 % guys create the real competition (i.e. around 12500 candidates). Add to that around 12500 more who are equally good but may score between 90 – 95 %ile, but have the potential to get 99 +.
As far as scores are concerned, try to target a score of 75 % of the toppers score. That should get you pretty close to 99 %ile.
Pradeep
#17 October 21, 2009, 2:22 pm

Hi Guys,

What about the percentage of seats for OBC candidates in all the IIMS?

Is it the full 27% or something less than that?

Are the IIMs going to increase the no of seats this year for OBC and for all?
Noqaiya
#18 October 21, 2009, 4:49 pm

The main and prior reason for CAT applicants reducing this year is because CAT has gone online.Many are still not prepared completely for it taking into account the sudden and a short notice change of pattern.Many have just applied this year to see or check as to how this online pattern suits them.From the next year the number of CAT applicants are surely going to increase owing to the ample amount of time obtained to accustom to the new pattern.
deadlyhunter143
#19 October 22, 2009, 7:04 am

@pranav Thanx for dat info………I think dat cat applicants also reduced due to the fact that the middle tier b schools were unable to place their batch……..as MBA requires a heavy sum to be invested many people might have backed off
Apurv Pandit
#20 October 22, 2009, 12:49 pm

Agree with Pranav – CAT numbers only indicate an industry trend. As far as competition in CAT is concerned, the number of serious aspirants change negligibly. They are your competition!
aligato
#21 October 22, 2009, 5:22 pm

thnx
Archana
#22 October 22, 2009, 6:14 pm

Thankzz 4 d analysis……..
hemantunlimited
#23 October 22, 2009, 6:43 pm

In terms of competition it remains the same ……. the number of applicants may be down due to recession, last year many people lost their jobs and tried for MBA, freshers were given joining very late so they also took CAT.
This yr the jobs are available so the numbers have come down…..
ravipandey4u
#24 October 22, 2009, 10:08 pm

so if the level of competition in the top bracket remains the same then u will get a lesser percentile due to lesser number of non serious students…and what about the 4 new IIM’s??? anybody has any info about them??
Cat meets Mice
#25 October 23, 2009, 10:42 am

i have been doing some reading on CAT. stumbled upon a completely unknown blog http://www.shameoncat.blogspot.com one can see some of the reasons why CAT will continue going down
MeinaurMrsKhanna
#26 October 23, 2009, 10:46 am

I can’t agree with Noqaiya’s argument. is going online so diffrnt that ppl will drop a yr to see how the onlne vrsn turns up? pranav@spjimr makes gud point…every year the best ones r only abt 12k
TheSinnical
#27 October 23, 2009, 12:19 pm

dont know about fading hype for CAT…the thing is my own enthu is almost gone…havent appeared for a single online test YET!…good’ol days of paper & pencil stuff….i wish they come back!
abhishek sharma
#28 October 23, 2009, 1:25 pm

It does not matter whether no. of cat aspirants comes to a lower no. this year as long as there is enough competency in this exam.above 2 lakhs students is a big no.The ones who are thinking to bell the cat do not think oof the no. of candidates.Let’s hope for the best.
Abhishek sharma(cat 2009 aspirant from lucknow)
singhankit
#29 October 24, 2009, 12:50 am

I am done with the LRDI and QA sections… but English is giving me headache… I am scared…. also my university semester exams are clashing with CAT, JMET and SNAP…. don’t what to do….SHIVANGI Maam or any senior please help…. I have done hard work in QA and LR ..but Vocabulary giving me nightmare ….I know , I will fail to clear the cut off for english….
NISHIT KUMAR
#30 October 24, 2009, 3:46 pm

this year, percentile requireed for different colleges will go down comparing to last year.reason is obvious-decrease in the no of non-serious candidate.
caterpilar
#31 October 26, 2009, 11:26 am

@ NISHIT KUMAR, may not be true considering the fact

a) Number of total applicants are almost same this.
b) Non-serious has gone down this implies number of some extra serious applicants are making up this void.
c) This year a lot many colleges have come up with increase in number of seats.

Thanks.
kafan1986
#32 October 27, 2009, 3:13 am

Can you tell what exact percentage of SC and ST people have applied?
sumon
#33 October 27, 2009, 5:55 pm

Plz give me the names of institutions without IIMs where OBC Reservation is available.
Abhinav Choudhry
#34 November 04, 2009, 2:50 pm

Hey I got an email from CL saying that 3.09 lakh aspirants took the test.Is it wrong?
acing high
#35 November 04, 2009, 4:28 pm

wont make any difference all the serious aspirants would have applied , it will be as stiff as it was last year :|

Malathy damodaran
#36 December 01, 2009, 3:52 pm

Pranav good analysis

Clear my doubt what is the total no of seats in IIM for 2010

Add Comment

Post comments here

Username

Password

Forgot Password?

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website
SPONSORS

Latest blog posts

S P O N S O R S

Most discussed posts

CAT results server up again

459 comments

IIM CAT 2010 Results announced

356 comments

Prometric releases details of evaluation process

130 comments

The Toto Nana repositioning assignment

122 comments

[Updated] GD PI Shortlists announced for IIM A And IIM Shillong

92 comments

A visit to the top-secret headquarters of Antimetric

50 comments

B-schools should write-off loans for students wanting to be social entrepreneurs

23 comments

[Update] B-school roundup: IIM Ahmedabad, Kozhikode students to help out shortlisted aspirants

23 comments