CAT 2014 Registration process: overcome the doubts and confusions and move forward

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
September 8, 2014
One thing is still haunting the minds of CAT 2014 aspirants and that is the need for clarification on various confusing points in registration
MBAUniverse.com tries to do all possible to help solve queries related to CAT 2014 registration confusion in consultation with CAT experts

Is CAT 2014 lagging behind in number of registrations in comparison to CAT 2013? Well statistical data and comparative analysis are not yet out. But one thing is still haunting the minds of CAT 2014 aspirants and that is the need for clarification on various confusing points in registration while they go for online CAT 2014 registration. Even the FAQs displayed on CAT 2014 site are not able to provide solution to these problems. CAT experts share the solutions to such confusions and advise the aspirants how to move forward in the CAT 2014 registration process as the same is coming to an end in a few days.

CAT 2014 Exam Notification Announced

CAT 2014: Gateway to 19 IIMs

Common Admission Test, commonly known as CAT is the most sought after entrance examination to pursue MBA/PGDM in IIMs and other top rated MBA colleges in India. It is a yearly examination conducted by Indian Institutes of Management.  The best talent of country aspires for IIMs which are highly ranked in imparting management education. There are around 2 lakhs candidates who go for CAT preparation to appear in this most coveted test every year.

Apart from 13 IIMs namely IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, Shillong, Ranchi, Kashipur, Trichy, Rohtak, Raipur, Udaipur, other top rated B schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, JBIMS, SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya,  MDI, IMT, IMI, BIMTECH, TAPMI, GreatLakes, LIBA, and many others accept CAT scores.6 more IIMs have been announced by the Government of India and are proposed to start functioning from academic session 2015-16. CAT 2014 has included registration process for these proposed IIMs as well.

Registration closes on Sep 30, 2014

CAT 2014 has brought many changes in its notification. This year CAT will be conducted in a 2 days test window in 4 sessions on November 16 and 22, 2014. The online CAT 2014 Registration process will close on September 30, 2014. The fee for registration for General andNC-OBC candidates is Rs.1600/-; for SC/ST/PWD(DA) candidates it is Rs.800/-

Since CAT 2014 has gone for tremendous changes in the registration process, availability of Admit card, testing window, examination pattern, candidates aspiring for CAT 2014 registration are already under intense pressure about the shape of CAT examination especially when the practice test is not yet made available to get a feel of the CAT 2014 and now the unresolved confusions in registration process are adding fuel to the fire.

Activation of idle icons on CAT 2014 needed

If the registration confusion persists and number of various idle icons not getting activated before the close of registration process, it is very much possible that registration number may get a dip in comparison to earlier CAT registrations. MBAUniverse.com tries to do all possible to help solve queries related to CAT 2014 registration confusion in consultation with CAT experts.

In cases where Surname or father’s name appears first in the certificate of 12th
According to the instructions for CAT 2014 Registration process name of a candidate ‘should be the same as on your 12th/Diploma/Degree certificates’. So you are supposed to write your name as it appears on the prescribed document.

Some of the candidates have their surnames appearing before their first names in their 12th standard certificates. Some have their father’s name appearing before their name.  They are now confused whether to write their names in the order as given in the certificate or should begin with their first name.

CAT 2014 clarifies “If you have genuinely made a mistake in entering your Date Of Birth, State, etc., you will have to show evidence of the correct data at the time of examination /interview/ admission else your candidature will be nullified.” So far as the entry of name in a different style in the certificate is concerned, CAT 2014 will need your name in accordance with the certificate. Later on at the time of admission, you may follow the system and procedure and produce all the relevant documents to get the problem solved. So far the CAT 2014 exam is concerned, it may not allow you to appear, in case you write your name in a different manner than as prescribed.

If you changed your name after bachelor’s degree, you may enter your changed name but you have to produce supporting documents for change of name at the time of examination, interview and admission.

Please remember that in case of difference in writing the name with no supporting documents, you stand the risk of not being allowed to appear in CAT 2014.

NC-OBC/SC/ST/PWD (DA) certificates

Thousands of the CAT 2014 aspirants belonging to any of the above categories already have the relevant certificates issued by the authorities and such certificates have also been accepted at various stages of their education and employment. CAT 2014 has published its own prescribed formats for submission and uploading of such certificates at the time of registration process.

CAT 2014 aspirants are now confused whether to upload the certificates which they already have at the time of CAT 2014 registration or they have to get the certificate afresh in accordance with prescribed format. 

It’s not only the matter of getting the fresh certificate obtained but number of other factors also make it difficult to get it.

Will involve time, money and energy; how justified

When a Government Authority issues a caste/category certificate, it is on its standard format. The information available in it can be verified any time but how justified it is to ask the aspirant to obtain another certificate for none of his fault.

If an aspirant from the Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh belonging to NC-OBC category has already got the certificate from the competent authority as per the prescribed format of the Government and the format is different from the prescribed CAT 2014 format, should he get the certificate issued again? Given the fact that the aspirant is working somewhere in Mumbai, he will need to waste a few days to come to Guntur, get (not so easy) the task completed (depending upon whether the competent authority is available on that day) and has to go back.  

CAT 2014 is not concerned with all this but will allow you to upload the certificate already available with you if it complies with the following conditions-

1.The certificate should have been issued by competent authority.
2. The name of the caste and caste number should appear in the certificate
3. The Ministry's resolution/order number should be available
4. The certificate should be in Hindi or English only  

Competent authority means District Authority. Caste number as notified should appear in the certificate. If your certificate has all this, you may not need another certificate.

No percentage but grades are awarded; how to move on
There are many institutes/universities awarding grades but no percentage of marks.  Even if there is a percentage range it is difficult to fill it up. For example A and A+ may have percentage range 75 to 90 and 90 to 100 respectively. Now the problem is what to write 75 or 90; 90 or 100.  A difficulty unresolved by CAT 2014 as well.

According to CAT 2014 notification “In case the university/institution does not have any scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result with 100.” 

Aspirants can obtain certificate from respective Board/University
CAT 2014 suggests “If any Board/ Institute/ University awards only letter grades without providing an equivalent percentage of marks on the grade sheet, the candidate should obtain a certificate from the Board/Institute/University specifying the equivalent marks which should be used for filling the online CAT application form. The original equivalence certificate needs to be submitted at the time of interview, if shortlisted for the same.”  So even if you are given the range in percentage without exact equivalent percentage, write the same. It can be anywhere between the specified range.

Re-register in case of mistakes in Registration process in CAT 2014
If you make mistake(s) in entering Percentage of marks/Category/Gender /Work Experience or other details which will affect selection process CAT 2014 suggests “you are advised to re-register with a new email ID. Your CAT 2014 application will be considered for the latest registration and Admit Card issued for the same.”
Please note according to CAT 2014 norms ‘No refund of registration fee will be made by CAT 2014 for your earlier registration. Failure to re-register in such circumstances may lead to nullification of your candidature.’

Bachelor’s degree counts
CAT 2014 aspirants have been raising the query that they scored below 50% in Bachelor’s degree but above 80% in Master’s degree exam, on that score wouldn’t they be eligible to appear in CAT 2014.

Before proceeding for registration and paying the registration fee for CAT 2014, aspirants should ensure that it is mandatory for General and SC/ST candidates to have scored minimum 50% and 45% marks respectively at graduation. Your score at Master’s degree is not important.
Graduation is the base for eligibility and any lesser score at bachelor’s degree is not acceptable to CAT 2014.

CAT 2014 has implied age bar
CAT 2014 registration application form requires minimum 3 years of bachelor’s degree and has no option specified for 2 years. 15 years minimum education is required upto bachelor’s degree. Interestingly till eighties’ number of Universities had 2 years’ bachelor’s degree courses in Arts, Science, commerce and other streams. All these courses were as per UGC guidelines. Period of Bachelor’s degree study was changed from 2 years to 3 years in late eighties.

Any person with 50+ years of age, completing 2 years’ graduation at that time in the Arts, commerce or Science stream has a total study years of 14 years. Now the person despite being a graduate is unable to apply for CAT 2014. CAT 2014 notification is also silent on this issue.

Ironically CAT 2014 categorically states “A candidate holding Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA awarded by any of the Universities incorporated by an act of the central or state legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956  is eligible”

The Registration process however, doesn’t allow 2 years’ bachelor’s degree. The only way is to go for one year bridge course and appear after one year in CAT 2015.

Related links

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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2014 registration