CAT 2015 is going to offer you more than what you expect in the form of higher intake in flagship PGP 2016-18 at 19 IIMs; increased CAT 2015 testing time with same number of questions; more choice of questions in the test; no botheration of self scheduling of test. So get ready, prepare well and get into an IIM in 2016-18 batch, chances are more.
Sounds good, when you suddenly come to know that your cherished dream to get into an IIM is going to be a reality in 2016, your heart begins throbbing faster and sure it should.
Higher intake in 2016 at 19 IIMs
CAT 2015 will cater to 7 older IIMs, 6 new IIMs and another 6 newest IIMs that started operation from admission year 2015-16 apart from other top rated B schools. It is expected that there will be an intake of 6000 candidates only in IIMs in 2016 and more than 50000 candidates will be shortlisted for final phase of admission round.
The sanctioned intake announced by MHRD for 6 newly established IIMs in 2015 is 140 seats each. In academic session 2015-16 they could not follow these norms as the classes had to be started in temporary campuses and there was no scope at the material time to explore the class expansion in these IIMs. Hence all these IIMs had to commence operation with less than half of the sanctioned strength. In 2016, it will have been a year and the mentor IIM will also be in a position to work out the possibilities to increase the intake to sanctioned strength.
Apart from this, the fact that older IIMs and comparatively new IIMs are also planning to increase the intake for the flagship PGP 2016-18 batch will add to the higher intake in Indian Institutes of Management.
Going by this statistics, the seats in IIMs will stand increased from the admission year 2016-17. Government of India has also announced opening of 1 more IIM in Jammu & Kashmir which will also increase the intake in IIMs.
So far 3500+ seats are available for admission in 19 IIMs in their flagship programmes. With the inclusion of 6 new IIMs, one each in Amritsar (Punjab), Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Sambalpur (Odisha), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) the intake will go up well beyond 5500. There is a fair opportunity to get into an IIM through CAT 2015, the most sought after MBA/PGDM entrance test which paves way to admission in an IIM.
Turn your dream into a reality
So how can you turn your dream into a reality now, depends upon you. If you are smart enough to grab the opportunity which has come your way with a bounty, nothing prevents you now to get into an IIM except for the fact that a little more focused you should be.
Scoring a high percentile in CAT 2015 is the bare minimum requirement to remain motivated and hopeful of getting shortlisted by IIMs for second phase of admission 2016. There is leverage also with increased number of seats in IIMs which should kindle hope within you to consider the best option of pursuing an MBA/PGDM from an IIM.
3 sections with 100 questions in CAT 2015
CAT 2015 has arrived not only with more seats but also with different testing pattern and time frame. You will have 100 Questions in CAT 2015 divided in 3 sections with 60 minutes allotted to each section. This will help you exercise more choice options while selecting the questions. Now you will have the liberty to choose from 3 sections instead of 2 in earlier CAT exams and score a high percentile.
IIMs consider other factors than only CAT 2015 scores
Remember, IIMs look beyond your high overall percentile in CAT before offering you admission. Still high CAT 2015 sectional percentile will be the foremost requirement to get shortlisted for second phase of admission round.
A candidate should also qualify on the IIMs’ prescribed standards, to get shortlisted after scoring high percentile in CAT 2015. CAT although offers more opportunities of admission in IIMs but to convert the call in final admission round, one should also get into the merit on specific weightage which facilitates the offer of admission in IIMs.
Your knowledge, intelligence and smart way of attempting the test can get you a high overall as well as high sectional percentile to get you shortlisted and then convert your call to an IIM of your dream.
Do you have what IIMs need? Check
IIMs would welcome you if you have the following with you.
Good Academic profile
All the IIMs prefer a candidate who has a very good academic record right from 10th standard. IIMs award points on a scale of 100 in a range of 8 to 20 for scoring high marks in 10th, 12th and graduation.
For example IIM-Calcutta awards maximum 10 points each for more than 80% marks in class X and XII which make it 20 out of 100 while the maximum weightage for CAT percentile is 77 to shortlist a candidate for GDPI. If you have a good academic record, you stand better chances of admission with high CAT 2014 percentile. IIM Lucknow awards 2 point weightage for class XII marks and 3 point weightage for Bachelor’s degree on a scale of 50 which would come to 4 and 6 respectively on a scale of 100.
Work experience of 2-3 years
A work experience of 2-3 years is considered the best period as IIMs give maximum weightage to the professional experience of 3 years.
The first shortlist after calculating the CAT 2015 percentile will also be based on the weightage for work experience.
The calculation by IIMs goes as follows: Pre PI score for Work Experience = 5x/36 if 0 < x < 36; = 5 if x >= 36. Work experience up to July 31, 2015 is to be calculated and the calculation should be done in months. Maximum weightage of 5 to 8 will be awarded for the work experience of 36 months. Quality of work experience will also be considered to award this score upto 10.
Good communication skill
IIMs would welcome you if you have good knowledge and intelligence and are smart enough to project yourself by highlighting proven and fact based leadership skills.
Groom your written and verbal communication skills well. Don’t get confused and have clarity and confidence on what you speak and write. IIMs need such candidates who can develop good managerial skills, the ones who have clarity of thought and can write well, can convey the message in their writing piece with no ambiguity.
Experts suggest
Prof S K Agarwal, Verbal Ability expert and mentor on CAT 2015 preparation suggests to make it a target to score a high balanced sectional percentile along with a high overall percentile.
An average or above average percentile in one section and very high in another section may increase your overall percentile but not the sectional percentile which you need badly. You are supposed to focus on all the 3 sections and secure high percentile in each of them. Since the shortlisting criteria of IIMs need high sectional percentile, you should aspire for it.
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