CAT course online Archives - PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc.

CAT exam – Does the rural population have an equal chance as the urban population?

Praqtise — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 09:06:51 +0000

“Do I have to be a city resident to crack CAT exam?”

His tears mixed with the running water in the river, as his sullen form positioned itself near the river bank like a stone. The cool breeze in the mountains of Munnar rustled in his air, while the trees swayed around, almost beckoning him to look at them. But, all he had in his mind was the incident at home, the fight, the screams, the desperation, and the lack of hope.

All of Munnar, his childhood, the beautiful walks across the vast tea fields, the delicacies, all of them seemed to fade away as he started to develop a pulsating hatred for the place. He questioned himself for being born here, a place where one could not live his dreams, where one could not be a part of a much bigger reality. The lack of proper coaching centres in a rural area as this had made him considerably depressed, owing to the fact that he could no longer see himself getting into a top management institute. All the beauty of the place, all of its greenery and all of the people who saw him grow no longer mattered to him.

The lack of proper educational institutions that cater to the needs of MBA aspirants in rural areas is one of the biggest problems that most students face. The low quality of existing educational infrastructure in these areas makes the scenario much worse. For most students from rural regions, CAT exam preparation is a reality that is too daunting even to think about.

It is considered that people who reside in cities have an advantage while preparing for MBA entrance exams. However, there are several elements and cases which point to the fact the rural population can have an equal, if not better chance at cracking the CAT exam. The reason for this is the advent of facilities such as CAT online coaching and online study repositories such as Praqtise.

Some of the main reasons why online coaching has helped students in rural areas to a large extent include the following:

Advances in Technology and Connectivity

Technology, in India, has been growing at a fast pace. The availability of Internet has become easier, with increased accessibility for even those students who stay in rural areas. It is the Government of India’s promise to connect all the villages of India digitally. It has been laying down fibre optic cables to reach even the deepest and most inaccessible parts of the country. Many students who aspire to become MBA graduates have the option to study online. There are many online tutoring websites available. These help students gain increased exposure to everything that is required to prepare for CAT. These websites teach the entire CAT exam syllabus right from the basics. This helps students have better concept clarity.

Online Question Banks and Repositories

In the virtual realm, a student can gain access to an ocean of question banks and study material. Some online coaching classes also offer gamified versions of the syllabus. The learning experience of the student is becomes more interesting and intuitive rather than merely a chore. The results of the tests are stored, overall progress can be seen at the click of a button. They have blogs where they can post doubts and queries regarding questions, exams, colleges and more. All you need is a good internet plan and dedication, elements that students in rural areas have access to.

Self Study

Another option available for students in rural areas is to prepare for the examinations on their own. To some it must be difficult, owing to the perceived lack of guidance that self-study might be associated. However, several studies point to the fact that self-study is one of the best weapons that an individual can wield.

Take the example of Julius Yego, a field athlete from Kenya. He is the one and only player to have learnt how to throw a javelin only by watching YouTube videos. He has many awards including in the

Commonwealth Games of 2014,
the World championship 2015 in Beijing and
Olympics games, 2016 in Rio de Janerio.

If winning medals in international sporting events is something that can be achieved just by watching online videos, why would it be difficult to prepare for CAT exams through self-study? There are numerous online tutorials and question banks for MBA aspirants. Self-study is no longer something to be afraid of.

If your dream is to get into one of the best b-schools in India, nothing can stop you. Surroundings or your background do not matter.

Does the rural population have an equal chance as the urban population in CAT exam? What do you think? Let us know in the comment’s section below.

—

Image sources:

[1] Self Created

[2] [3] [4] [5]

The post CAT exam – Does the rural population have an equal chance as the urban population? appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

Daily Prescription Pills for CAT Exam 2016

Praqtise — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 11:37:00 +0000

For a brief moment, I looked up from my paper. Hardly a second, maybe even less. I knew I had already made a mistake when I looked around me. Hands moving feverishly, the rattle of the AC, and 35 people unanimously struggling to do better than the one seated next to them. This was just another CAT mock test in class but I couldn’t help imagining the magnitude of the competition in the actual CAT exam. The singular ‘I’ against the brightest hundred thousand of this country. The moment of clarity had hit me. I had to do more than just practice. It was time.

It is true that preparing for CAT exam exposes you to tumultuous pressure. The number one reason for concern according to most aspirants is the intimidating CAT syllabus. While there is very little to be done except to overcome it, there are certain hacks that will help you keep calm and focused in the final few months of your preparation.

Prescription for Your CAT Well-being

Time Yourself:

Every bit of your CAT exam depends on how well you manage time. Time yourself in each category. You can begin by solving CAT question papers and mock tests with a set time limit on each section. This will give you a clear and concise idea as to which areas you need to work on.

Create A List:

Based on your performance in the mock tests, make a note of the areas where you need to put in efforts. Use this list as a reference regularly to touch up on your weaknesses.

Read Newspapers and tabloids:

It is extremely important to stay up to date with the current affairs of the world, not just for the CAT exam but in the best interests of our daily lives. Cultivate a habit of reading newspapers that will not only enhance your general knowledge but also help with your verbal and written communication skills. Reading Comprehension is one of the most scoring sections on a CAT paper. Daily reading will better your chances of scoring in this particular section by heaps.

Revise Your Fundamental Concepts:

Every CAT topper emphasises on the importance of a clear understanding of concepts. A thorough revision of every topic will definitely add to your confidence level. In fact, some CAT toppers even go on to say that CAT can be a relatively easy paper to crack with clear concepts.

Give Time to Yourself:

Even though it is known that CAT exam preparation will take up a lot of your time, it is still absolutely necessary to delegate some time for yourself. A happy and calm mind ensures mental and physical well-being before and during exams. Exercising, sports or simple meditation can bring about a positive change before CAT.

Practiqal Approach: In 2013, Gavin D’Souza from Goa scored an impressive 99.49 percentile in the CAT exam. In an interview with Rediff.com, D’Souza mentioned how it is extremely important to unwind while also preparing for CAT.

In the final few months before CAT, it is no longer important to know how to prepare for CAT. It is however of greater significance to know what exactly to prepare during this time. In reality, the preparation over the last 3-3.5 months is what makes the ultimate difference. That is to say that a significant change in your CAT performance can be made with the right attitude during these crucial few months.

Practice Fact File: In a batch of students of a CAT Coaching center who enrol themselves 12 to 18 months prior to CAT exam, only 5% students remain regular with their attendance. Most students lose focus and remain under the impression that they have a significant amount of time in hand to prepare, which ultimately leads to a loss of impetus required in the final moments before the exam. Thus debunking the myth that all those who start early win the race. Preparation strategies in the final months make a much larger impact than starting preparations early.

Are you targeting CAT 2016? What strategy are you following in the final phase of preparation? Can you share some wisdom? Please do so in the comments.

The post Daily Prescription Pills for CAT Exam 2016 appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

Top Colleges in India for MBA in Marketing

Praqtise — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 11:32:52 +0000

“List of colleges offering MBA in Marketing in India.”

‘I want to start preparing for entrance exams and apply for MBA once I finish my graduation’ said Kapil to Raman.

‘Wow! That’s great, Kapil’ said Raman. ‘Which field do you plan to do MBA in?’

‘I am sure that I want to do MBA in marketing and I want to do it from one of the top colleges in India’ replied Kapil. ‘But I am confused which are the top MBA colleges in India for marketing.’ ‘I know about most of the colleges, but I don’t know which of them ranks the best in marketing.’

‘Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll help you out with that. Give me one day’ said Raman.

‘Thanks, Raman, you’re a true friend’ said Kapil.

It is a normal tendency of the students to be confused about which field to chose or which college to do MBA from. Kapil is a student with the same dilemma.

Marketing is a means to match the marketing resources of a firm like product, distribution, advertising and pricing to the consumer needs. It is the most active part of any organisation. It deals with understanding consumer needs, transforming it into products and services, promoting it and offering it back to the customer.

Technology has developed, and so has marketing. The newer approach of marketing employs the use of internet. This is also called Online marketing, digital marketing, or internet marketing. This new style of marketing might not be as prevalent in India as in the western countries, but India is also getting there gradually. The scope for digital marketers in India is great right now.

There are a lot of renowned colleges in India when it comes to MBA in Marketing . The most renowned of all are the IIMs which give students world class infrastructure and facilities. They give students a platform to develop competency and interpersonal skills and help them in becoming competent professional managers.

“Perks of studying at some of the best B-schools in India.”

Top companies like Mahindra and Mahindra, to attract attention and create excitement among students of top notch B-schools, organise competitions like ‘Mahindra War Room’. This competition requires students to possess a problem solving approach. The team with the best strategy gets a pre-placement offer at the company. You could also be the next winner of ‘Mahindra War Room’ if you give it a try.

PRAQTISE FACT FILE: The top B-schools in India, rather than employing the typical way of teaching, use methods like case studies, group work, field visits, role-plays, seminar, and lectures. This helps in fostering characteristics like problem solving and decision making in the students. This is definitely the best way to go about the course. Why you ask? That is since marketing focuses on ground and practical realities and not theoretical models.

MBA in Marketing, being the flagship course in many of the colleges, makes the competition stiffer. It seems that it is more difficult than getting into MBA Finance at times.

So, is it going to be easy to get there? – No, it’s not so easy.

Is it impossible? –It surely is not impossible.

Kapil will soon start his preparations for the entrance exams. In order to help him, his friend, Raman compiled a list of some colleges in India that offer MBA in Marketing considering factors like faculties, exposure, placement, location and facilities. He hopes this list will resolve Kapil’s doubts and help him achieve his goal.

Here is the list of top B-schools in India offering MBA in Marketing.

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
Indian School of Business, Hyderabad
Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi
XLRI – Xaviers School of Management, Jamshedpur
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
Management Development Institute, Gurgaon
Indian Institute of Management, Indore
Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune
S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai

hat tossing ceremony at graduation

A Praqtical Look: One of the most coveted qualifications around is a degree in MBA Marketing which is also the flagship course in many of the best MBA colleges in India. There is tremendous competition not just for getting a seat, but also during campus life. However, the course also offers plentiful opportunities to stand out through b-plan contests, quizzes, product launch contests etc. Students should aim for participating in extra-curricular activities like these. Performing well in these events is a massive boost for your confidence. Recruiters always prefer CVs with significant extra-curricular achievements.

Finally, Acquiring admission in one of these prestigious institutes might not be an easy task, but if you do secure admission, it is sure to be amongst best years of your life.

If you have any queries regarding the top MBA colleges offering Marketing in India, then feel free to contact us. We’ll be glad to resolve it.

The post Top Colleges in India for MBA in Marketing appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

CAT PREPARATION ONLINE – How is it better?

Praqtise — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 21:01:36 +0000

“Why this sudden shift to CAT preparation online?”

“I don’t think I want to continue with this job anymore.” She finally stated after weeks of self-loathing and subsequent self-evaluations.

My best friend wanted to switch her career and explore new dimensions beyond what her present field offered. After weeks of trying to supress her ambitions because of her family’s objections, she finally realised that she’s not the person that she actually wants to be and that she is stuck somewhere where she doesn’t belong.

A business school was where she wanted to be. But, for an effective career change that she dreamed of, she had to crack CAT and get into one of the top most IIMs.

“I want to prepare for CAT but I cannot risk this job!” she continued.

“You don’t have to. You can prepare simultaneously with your job” I promptly replied, and saw some hope on her face after days of sadness.

Though I managed to convince her that she’ll be able to do this and successfully get into the top MBA colleges, I was hardly convinced of it myself.

I mean, look at the competition these days! With so many coaching institutes honing the skills of the best minds to crack CAT with the best scores, I didn’t think self-preparation along with a hefty work schedule could work! To help my friend with all I can, I did a thorough research on the skills and practise required to crack CAT and actually got convinced of quite the opposite.

PRAQTISE FACT FILE: Prateek Bajpai achieved the extraordinary feat of scoring 100 percentile in CAT 2015 along with his regular job in Algeria. He underwent online CAT preparation online using only sources like mocks and CAT test series and did not refer to any other CAT study material and prepared for just about 6 months.

Technology today can actually help you get an advantage over students who prepare conventionally. To convince you of the same, here is a list of 8 reasons why CAT preparation online using portals can serve the best of your interests:

1. Unlimited Question Bank

Online portals like PRAQTISE offer you the facility of unlimited question banks on all topics sorted in a way that makes your work a lot easier. Just log into your account and start solving questions on the topic you want to focus on. Don’t fear that you may lack practise here unlike the case of CAT books because once you are determined, PRAQTISE offers unlimited question banks and mocks.

2. Saves Time and Money

The time that you may have spent travelling to and fro from the coaching institute can be utilised in studying. Not only this, imagine the huge money that is spent on a year-long or a crash course in the big coaching institutes. PRAQTISE by letting you prepare from home not only helps you save time but also offers you mocks and practise tests free of cost. If at all you want to, you may upgrade your plan at nominal rates as per your needs and convenience.

3. Learn at your own pace

At coaching institutes, people often complain that the pace of the lectures is set by the brightest of students. You may lag behind and not get your concepts clear! This can be the scariest barrier in your CAT preparation.

On the other hand, the brighter ones may complain of the opposite. It’s a waste of their precious time when the not-so-smart ones ask questions.

To eliminate this, PRAQTISE brings to you the concept of adaptive testing. It’s a tailored testing where the level of the questionnaire adjusts itself according to the examinee’s abilities.

It’s like the best utilisation of technology to boost your preparation!

4. Gamified Preparation

Solving similar questions again and again can be boring as hell. Now, here is where technology revolutionises your learning experience. PRAQTISE by gamification lets you compete in mocks with others just like a multiplayer game. It also gives you medals and awards for your scores.

5. Focus on accuracy

Improving your accuracy is a must if you want to score well in CAT. While conventional learning may not keep a track of how accurate you need to be, PRAQTISE through its focus on accuracy reminds you time and again of how negative marking is bringing down your total score.

6. Available at all times at your comfort

You don’t need to report here every day at a particular time. Just be sincere enough to schedule a few hours at any time of the day and PRAQTISE will go along with you. Also, it eases the load of preparation by letting you review your study plan to remind you of what is left and what needs to be done.

7. Saving your scores

PRAQTISE saves your historical data i.e. the scores of your previously taken mocks. It compares your subsequent section wise improvement through charts and analysis graphs. This helps you track your own growth in such a way that you could never have done while preparing conventionally.

8. Proficiency in Online test taking

Now that CAT is conducted online, you not only need to master your subjects but also need to get in to the habit of reading from the computer. Online mock tests and practise sheets offered by PRAQTISE make sure that you don’t miss out on this big CAT preparation tip.

Leave your feedbacks and your views on preparing for CAT online in the comment section below.

—

Image Sources:

[1] http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22wqbq_cat-exam-preparation-and-coaching-at-thedigilibrary_news?GK_FACEBOOK_OG_HTML5=1

[2] http://viaimmobiler.com/save-time-and-money

[3] https://elearningindustry.com/gamification-equals-engagement-innovation

[4] http://www.busitelce.com/big-data-cartoons

[5] Feature image: https://elearningindustry.com/gamification-equals-engagement-innovation

The post CAT PREPARATION ONLINE – How is it better? appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

CAT course online Archives - PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc.

CAT exam – Does the rural population have an equal chance as the urban population?

Advances in Technology and Connectivity

Online Question Banks and Repositories

Self Study

Daily Prescription Pills for CAT Exam 2016

Prescription for Your CAT Well-being

Time Yourself:

Create A List:

Read Newspapers and tabloids:

Revise Your Fundamental Concepts:

Give Time to Yourself:

Top Colleges in India for MBA in Marketing

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad

Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi

XLRI – Xaviers School of Management, Jamshedpur

Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow

Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

Indian Institute of Management, Indore

Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune

S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai

Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai