CAT which is an abbreviation for College Admission Test is one of the most important examinations for a student willing to pursue a career in Business or Management. The Indian Institute of Management also referred to as IIM conducts the CAT. It is conducted by one of the IIMs every year. Every year according to statistics 150,000 to 200,000 applicants apply for CAT. Above all, the competition is increasing every year taking the CAT to another level. The question we will be answering in this article is ‘Is Retaking the CAT Indeed Worth It?’
According to research, less than 1% of candidates get a chance to secure their seats in the IIM. Hence there is a cut-throat competition. This usually results in a number of candidates losing out on their opportunity to secure a seat in their desired IIM. Hence a number of candidates plan on to wait for another year, prepare even harder than before and give the CAT Examination again.
But the question arises, is it worth dropping a year just to secure a seat into your desired IIM?
Firstly you need to know that you are not alone in this. There are a large number of candidates who take a drop for the preparation of CAT every year. Hence, you have to know two things that you are not alone in this and you have a large number of repeaters and also since you have a large number of repeaters. Hence even though you may have an edge over the candidates appearing for CAT for the first time, you are on the same page with people who are appearing for the examination for the second time alongside you.
Also, even though you may not be giving CAT for the second time or if you are giving the exam for the second time, there are also individuals who give CAT three or four times! So even though you have considered taking a drop for the same, you should know who you are competing with! It is definitely a great idea to take CAT however you need to make sure as to what you are getting into. If you think you can make it through if you retake CAT then you may sometimes want to reconsider your decision.
Taking a Drop
Taking a drop or retaking CAT does not guarantee your selection. You have to know that only if you can consistently prepare for CAT for a whole another year with complete determination and devotion then you may give it another shot. If you lack any of these or you are not 100% sure of cracking it up in the next attempt without any distractions then do not consider wasting a whole year and giving the exam all over again. Instead, you can even opt for giving CAT, GMAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT or NMAT. We shall get in to brief details of every exam. However, it is important to note that if you want to seek admission into the IIM’s then the only way you could admission is through scoring an extremely high or the required percentile in CAT. There is no substitute for CAT with respect to the IIM’s.
GMAT:
GMAT refers to the Graduate Management Admission Test. It is given to seek admission into colleges abroad or outside India for an MBA. The main objective of GMAT is to test your verbal, analytical, logical reasoning skills and so on. It is a 3-hour computer-based examination. The score of GMAT is valid for 5 years.
Also, the competition for GMAT is extremely high with more than 2 lakh people applying for GMAT every year. It is important to note that retaking the CAT may cost you one whole year as the examination only happens once a year. However, you can retake GMAT after 16 days of giving the test. The fees for GMAT is however, extremely high. The syllabus for CAT and GMAT is also the same, however, the level of difficulty does vary.
XAT:
The XLRI Jamshedpur conducts the XAT or Xavier Aptitude Test, which is a national-level management examination. The test is similar to CAT and is taken only once a year. It is also a computer-based examination, however, the competition here is comparatively lesser than GMAT and CAT. Approximately 60,000 to 80,000 candidates apply for the examination every year.
SNAP:
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) conducts SNAP or Symbiosis National Aptitude Test for admissions into the University. This university is not just oriented towards one program but towards multiple courses including MBA.
These are the few options you may want to consider if you do not plan on retaking CAT. However, if you do plan on retaking CAT, Then you may want to know how to go about it.
How should you start preparing for CAT in case you plan to retake it?
This is a question that comes to the mind of every student who takes a gap year to prepare for CAT. You must know that dedication and consistency will help you secure your desired seat. Now you need to get back to the drawing board, think of the mistakes you have made in your previous attempts and the areas of improvement. Pick up the topics that have been troubling you first. Attempt sectionals with the time-bound approach.
Give mocks and track your progress with every attempt. With this approach, you can probably increase by quite a few digits of percentile. Picking the right coaching and study material is quite essential here. The market offers a number of books to understand and practice from. But you have to be very careful as to what you pick. Also, learn to devote as much time as you can to the preparation in order to ace it.
