Eligibility Criteria-Screening Test-Two Tier Architecure for CAT

[amanonArun]

Looks like IIMs are making some changes for the CAT 2006. The minimum qualification criteria is one. I believe that it is good to have a minimum qualification criteria, although i dunno how many people who had obtained less than 50% had applied this year.

Also the same article mentions that there might be some changes in the pattern. It said that they are thinking about having 2 CATs. One for screening and the other one a main CAT(pretty much like IIT JEE). This is supposedly to limit the amount of time spent on GD/PI. Looks like this is just an option they are thinking on. Dunno if this will get implemented

[amitnsitian]

Originally Posted by amanonArun

Also the same article mentions that there might be some changes in the pattern. It said that they are thinking about having 2 CATs. One for screening and the other one a main CAT(pretty much like IIT JEE). This is supposedly to limit the amount of time spent on GD/PI. Looks like this is just an option they are thinking on. Dunno if this will get implemented

this is a good move, i feel. but if they want to implement it, they need to act fast.

[freestyler]

"What a shock - CAT 06" ----> minimum academic eligibility rule for CAT

Hmmm sounds interesting.
Well about the 50% eligibility bit, most of who bell the CAT would be able to manage 50% in their graduation.
The other proposal of making it a 2-tier process is interesting. Well, for one, it will definitely make elimination a lot easier. I think it is a good move since a lot of good candidates in the 97+ to 98+ range lose out because of a few marks here and there. The 2-tier process will give them a second chance to prove their mettle. Seems like a good thought, but not sure how it will be put into place. Should not hurt anybody's chances or make it easier or tougher coz in the end, whatever it is, it's the same for everybody.

[prathi_25]

While everybody is busy discussing about the 50% criterion I don't understand as how can the 2 stage pattern be implemented. How can they make Cat a darn subjective exam like nay other exam. The very reason CAT is one of the best and toughest exam to clear is because of the stringent GD and PI procedures which mandate personality skills in the applicant in addition to mere academic qualification(marks n stuff) or good paper cracking skills.
If they reduce the time allotted for them then the very differentiating factor is lost.Not only that, what off the 2 stage process?? what exactly are they going to do in the second stage?Introduce essay writing and crap? C'mon this ain't a HR course or sicial studies. An institute like TISS is fine but do we really need such skills for a generall MBA...but then the students admitted thru cat ain't so poor in writing skills that they have to prove them before hand.( just an assumption considering the GRE pattern was changed for a similar reason. However GRE can be cracked with a good deal of preparation n not very great fundamentals which is not the case with CAT verbal)..or is this an amendment in response to the reservation bill in order to make it tougher and fairer for everybody??

Also what is the probability that it will be implemented in the coming year that is before November? If so shouldn't they tell the students well in advance to be prepared to face the exam pattern??

prathi

[amitnsitian]

Originally Posted by prathi_25

I don't understand as how can the 2 stage pattern be implemented. How can they make Cat a darn subjective exam like nay other exam.

it is going to be a 2 stage both objective kind of a paper. Maybe, they can introduce a small essay like XL. subjective paper is not possible.

[boltthrower]

Originally Posted by prathi_25

Also what is the probability that it will be implemented in the coming year that is before November? If so shouldn't they tell the students well in advance to be prepared to face the exam pattern??

prathi

hey Prathi even I feel the same way.I really doubt whether the new pattern will be implemented this time round.

[poindexter]

"We are also thinking of keeping the group discussions and personal interviews short so that these do not take away teaching and research time of our faculty," Apte said.

i think it should be the other way round. Atleast the PI should cover wide areas so as to make sure that you are getting in the right candidates. its sad that the GD PI are taken just as a formality.

[Govi]

Edited the Thread name to the title of the Article, just to prevent the occurence of multiple threads.

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

1. Does the "qualifying examination" refer only to the graduation course undertaken (college) or does this extend to a post graduate course (say MA) that a candidate may have taken. What I am asking is - are people who've scored more than 50% in their Post Graduate Course (say an MA in Economics) eligible for CAT even if they have less than 50% at the graduate level?

Prima facie it's only the graduation level marks. Since details regarding the proposed new admission process are not divulged one would have to wait till the brochures and app forms for CAT are out.

Originally Posted by HitchHiker

2. Is the eligibility criteria for CAT or for the IIMs? What about other institutes that admit students through CAT and have no minimum 50% rule?

The eligibility criteria that may come in would be for CAT per se (remember the trigger for revising the procedure is the exponential rise in the number of applicants and the difficulty their systems face in screening the applicants) Since CAT is primarily for admission to the IIMs the eligibilty criteria follows (again this is just a logical conclusion subject to details regarding the new process).

Even if other insitutes have no 50% rule - how would that matter. If an institute X is accepting CAT scores and if CAT has a min elig of 50% the applicant is bound to comply to that criteria.

[prathi_25]

Originally Posted by amitnsitian

it is going to be a 2 stage both objective kind of a paper. Maybe, they can introduce a small essay like XL. subjective paper is not possible.

Hey where is it mentioned taht it is going to be an objective paper in both stages?/..Now this gets more and more interesting..does any1 have a clue regarding this??

[prathi_25]

Originally Posted by amitnsitian

it is going to be a 2 stage both objective kind of a paper. Maybe, they can introduce a small essay like XL. subjective paper is not possible.

Hey where is it mentioned that it is going to be an objective paper in both stages?/..Now this gets more and more interesting..does any1 have a clue regarding this??