Mehek is preparing for the 2016 CAT exam. She goes to a coaching centre where she has enrolled for a mock test series. Mehek has made friends with some of her fellow test takers. This is what they were discussing one day after a mock test.
Shubham: “I appeared for CAT last year. I got a decent percentile of 97 but could not make it to any of the IIMs.”
Mehek: “But with such a score you could have got into any other good college”
Shubham: “Yes, but my dream is to study in an IIM.”
Reema: “Shubham, you scored well last year. I got 89%ile last year and 77%ile the year before that. I also want to get into top B-school; and am therefore sitting for the CAT again this year”.
Ayush: “Wow, you guys seem to have a lot of experience in taking CAT exam. I will be giving the exam for the first time this year. What chance do I have against you experienced CAT takers?”
This got Mehek wondering. She is also going to appear for the CAT for the first time. She has many questions in her mind about competing with someone who has taken CAT multiple times.
Over the years, CAT has seen many toppers from different backgrounds. All of them had different preparation styles. Many of them were first time CAT takers, and many were CAT repeaters. What made them win? How much does prior experience in taking CAT matter? Let’s find out.
Facts and figures about the CAT exam
CAT allows students to sit for the exam multiple times without counting the number of attempts. So, every year there are many first time CAT takers and many who have taken it before.
PRAQTISE Fact File
| Year | No. of candidates applying for the test | No. of candidates actually taking the test |
| 2016 | 232,434 | – |
| 2015 | 218,664 | 1,79,602 |
| 2014 | 196,988 | 1,67,829 |
| 2013 | 194,516 | 1,73,714 |
CAT is an exam that enjoys large number of test takers because the score is valid for many colleges. Not just the IIMs, but many top b-schools in India use the test for selecting students for their business administration programs. The test is conducted every year by one of the IIMs based on a policy of rotation.
PRAQTISE Fact File
| CAT Testing Year | CAT Conducting IIM | CAT Testing Agency |
| 2012 | IIM Kozhikode | Prometric |
| 2013 | IIM Indore | Prometric |
| 2014 | IIM Indore | Tata Consultancy Services |
| 2015 | IIM Ahmedabad | Tata Consultancy Services |
Each year a different IIM sets the CAT question paper and the pattern keeps changing. Last year IIM-A had set the paper, and they introduced a lot of changes in the exam. According to the latest press release, this year IIM-B will be conducting the exam. They have announced that the CAT exam pattern will not change from last year, but the number of presentation of questions may vary.
Would that mean that people taking CAT again this year will have a better chance of cracking it? The answer is they may or may not. It depends on their preparation and practice. But can you beat them? The answer is a big yes!
First attempt: Winners
Despite the pattern change every year there is at least one first time CAT taker who is among the top 20. Last year in CAT 2015, Prateek Bajpai scored 100%ile. This was his first attempt at CAT. He prepared for CAT without coaching but gave lot of mock tests. Similarly, Rajeev Reddy scored 100%ile who was also a first time CAT taker. Amit Warrier was another person from same category who scored 99.94%ile. He says it was all his hard work that helped him in making a mark for himself.
The aspirants need to notice that, CAT exam has always been about testing your concepts and understanding. It all comes down to the effort and confidence of the student. It does not matter if people have taken CAT before or are taking it for the first time. If you have worked on improving yourself, you can win against anyone. Even after CAT during GDPI phase, it’s your practice; confidence and knowledge about current happenings that will help you succeed.
A Praqtical Look
CAT exam has always had a lot to do with competition. The scores and results are relative. So, it’s natural for students to worry about competing against the experienced test takers. However, being a repeat test taker does not necessarily confer you with absolute advantage. You can compete and win against anyone.
Start by calming yourself down. Look at the CAT syllabus and prepare accordingly. Have a CAT preparation strategy. Work out a timetable based on your convenience so that you can cover the course thoroughly. Once done with the syllabus, take up a CAT mock test series. It is important to take these tests because you will get used to taking the test online, your concepts will be refreshed, and you will know where you stand in the competition. Use the enhanced online facilities available for preparation.
So buck up, because as Alexander Graham Bell says, Preparation is the key to success.
Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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