CAT exam: 10 popular myths busted

The Common Admission Test (CAT)

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to the Post-Graduate and Fellow Programs in Management (FPM). Every year, millions of aspirants appear for the CAT exam with the hope of getting admission in one of the prestigious IIMs. However, there are numerous myths associated with the CAT exam, which often makes it difficult for aspirants to make informed decisions about their preparation. To clear the air, here are 10 popular myths about the CAT exam that you should know about:

1. Myth: Only engineers can crack the CAT

   Fact: Students from any educational background can crack the CAT. It is true that engineering students are better placed to crack the CAT, but the exam is designed to be open to all students, regardless of their educational background.

2. Myth: You need to complete the entire syllabus to crack the CAT

   Fact: The CAT is not a syllabus-based exam. It is an aptitude test, and hence it is important to focus on understanding the concepts rather than memorizing facts.

3. Myth: You need to have good English to crack the CAT

   Fact: While the CAT does test your English language skills, the level required is not very high. The CAT is primarily a test of your quantitative, logical, reasoning and data interpretation skills.

4. Myth: CAT = IIMs

   Fact: CAT is mainly associated with Indian Institute of Management (IIMs). Well, it isn't true. CAT score is accepted by not only the IIMs but also by over 1200 B-Schools in India, which include top ranked institutes such as MDI-Gurgaon, FMS-Delhi, SPJIMR-Mumbai and IMT-Ghaziabad among others. Also, scoring well in CAT does not guarantee admission into IIMs as the institutes lay a lot of stress on the candidates' academic and work profile for admission. So don't worry, score well in CAT 2022 and you will have a range of good MBA colleges to choose from.

5. Myth: Experienced candidates are given more preference during selection

   Fact: MBA or PGDM can be pursued both immediately after graduating or after a few years break. It is ultimately your decision what you want to do. If you want to explore your interests, gain work experience or take a break of two or three years after graduation, this is completely possible. Take the CAT exam when you feel you are ready for the MBA journey. In fact, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have the provision of allowing shortlisted candidates to delay their admission by a year. Those who take up this option can join the IIM after one year. Candidates who have some work experience are given extra points during the MBA admission selection process. Every institute usually has a balanced class ratio of fresh graduates and candidates with work experience.

6. Myth: You should focus on quant more than verbal

   Fact: While it is true that the quant section is usually more difficult than the verbal section, it is important to focus on both the sections equally. Both sections are equally important and need to be prepared in order to score well in the CAT.

7. Myth: You need to practice only from CAT papers

   Fact: While it is important to practice from past CAT papers, it is equally important to practice from other sources as well. You should practice from books, newspapers and question banks to have a better understanding of the exam.

8. Myth: You need to take the CAT multiple times

   Fact: It is not necessary to take the CAT multiple times. You should take the exam only when you are confident that you can score better than your previous attempt.

9. Myth: Number of questions decide score

   Fact: No. It's not the number of answers, but the accuracy of answers that matters in CAT. The CAT exam has negative marking for wrong answers. So, if you have attempted all the questions but have got majority of them incorrect, you stand to lose a lot of marks. But if you solve the selected questions accurately, you'd score well. Keep in mind to attempt accurately 2/3rd of the total questions in every section of the CAT to get a good percentile.

10. Myth: The CAT is a very difficult exam

    Fact: The CAT is a difficult exam, but it is not impossible to crack. With the right preparation strategy and practice, you can crack the CAT. By understanding these myths, you can make informed decisions about your CAT preparation and get closer to your dream of getting into one of the IIMs. Good luck!