CMAT 2016 going to be conducted by AICTE on January 17, 2016 for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes in 400+ B schools in the country can prove to be a very good but last chance to improve your score, if you scored low percentile in CAT 2015.
You will find hundreds of top rated B-schools in the country who accept both CAT and CMAT scores. Since almost all the PGDM B-schools are approved by AICTE and run AICTE approved programmes, in most of the cases they also accept CMAT scores with a few exceptions. AICTE is yet to update the list of B-schools accepting CMAT 2016 scores, but barring the 19 IIMs, XLRI and a few other B-schools, the scores of CMAT 2016 would be accepted by many B-schools for admission 2016.
50-60 percentilers in CAT 2015: nothing to worry
Those who have scored as low as 50, 60 or 70 percentile in CAT 2015 should not be worried, if they have registered for CMAT 2016. You can very well improve your score and get a good B-school of your choice by taking CMAT 2016.
CMAT 2016 is the official gateway for admissions into the University MBA programs in thirteen states which include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Karnataka. The governments have officially notified CMAT as their official test. In addition, many B-schools offering PGDM programs will also be using the CMAT scores. The scores of CMAT 2016 are proposed to be accepted as the basis for shortlisting the candidates in AICTE approved MBA/PGDM programmes beginning 2016 in hundreds of B-schools.
CMAT 2016: An important but easy test
CMAT awards raw scores out of maximum 400 marks as well as percentile scores. If you can score anywhere between 175 to 275 you may get admission to one of the good management institutes like BIMTECH (Specialized programmes),; MICA Ahmedabad; UPES Dehradun; Asia Pacific; NDIM; Welingkar Mumbai; KJ Somaiya Mumbai; XIME, XISS, IFMR, IFIM, IMT Nagpur, Hyderabad, Great Lakes Chennai and many more
CMAT is considered an easier exam that CAT. Moreover since this is going to be the first yearly CMAT 2016, it is expected that it will not be a difficult exam. CMAT 2016 will be of 3 hours duration comprising 4 sections with 25 MCQ type questions each. All the sections have equal weightage. Unlike CAT 2015 where sectional time restrictions were applicable, you can switch from one section to other freely in CMAT 2016. It would offer you an opportunity to utilize your time to solve more questions in other section once you complete one section early.
Syllabus and Important topics to practice
Although CMAT syllabus cannot be rigidly defined, we may concentrate on various topics that have higher weightage in the exam.
Language Comprehension
CMAT 2016 defines its Verbal Ability section as Language Comprehension. It covers comprehensive English test which includes the test of grammar, tenses, vocabulary, jumbled paragraphs and reading comprehension. Key topics from which you may expect questions are - usage of Articles, Non-finites, dangling modifiers, Nouns, Pronouns (especially relative Pronouns), adjectives, adverbs, prepositions –regular and followed, verbs, Syntax, Subject-verb Agreement, Simple, continuous, Perfect tenses and Conditional-unreal past.
Questions based on Vocabulary could be any of the following types. Inserting the correct pair of words to fill in the blanks -Two Blanks are given in a sentence followed by four options of pairs of words, correct option has to be picked out. Marking the correct choice of similar sounding and confusing words; picking out the correct words left out in a paragraph; Synonyms-Antonyms -Explaining the Words; analogy words; one word substitution.
Jumbled Paragraphs – CMAT 2016 like CAT and XAT puts the candidate to test for his coherent and systematic understanding of ideas. The candidate is expected to arrange all the sentences in logical & sequential order. In another words it is the test of the student’s versatile reading, understanding of language, writing ability based on deep stock of vocabulary, grammar and correct use of tenses.
While solving them you should search for connectors to sentences e.g. conjunctions, personal ( He/she/it/they/their etc), relative (Who,whose, that,which etc.), Demonstrative (These, those, this, that etc.) pronouns as they indicate that they must have been used in place of some noun-proper/common etc. So find the link between the sentences.
A few paragraphs have time factors in it-indicating that the events mentioned for the earlier time should come first and could help you to put them in chronological order.
English comprehension passages – Unlike CAT, CMAT 2016 would give you shorter and not too difficult passages. Although this can be a respite to some extent, there is no fix rule on framing the questions based on Reading comprehension passage, which is followed by at least four-five questions each. Questions could be any of following types- ; Questions based on inference drawn; Questions based on the Central idea of the passage; Questions based on phrases, idioms; Questions based on expression in the passage.
Quantitative aptitude & data interpretation
Questions in this section are usually single and are not based on sets. While topics like table and pie chart in data interpretation section will require basic calculation skills, the topics from which most of the questions appear in quant are arithmetic (ratios, mixtures, work, averages, profit & loss, basic statistics etc), number properties, probability and counting principles with one or two odd questions in geometry and derivatives (i.e. maxima –minima).
Logical Reasoning
The section in CMAT 2016 could be a mix of the topics from arrangements like linear, seating, sequencing & arranging with conditions to coding. The other questions are based on statement-conclusion, logical puzzle, numerical puzzle, Venn Diagram, true/false statements, visual reasoning. The basic preparatory tip for LR is to attempt as many practice exercises as possible. They can be solved with basic human logical instinct.
General awareness
This section may have questions from any topic under the Sun. But the same for the quick revision purpose can be divided in three parts and each part has to be given due weightage. Conventional GK-available in books; Current GK- based on current reading of newspapers and periodicals; Business & Economics GK -for example changes in Fiscal and monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate, Devaluation and up valuation of Rupee. Please remember current GK-whether Business, national and international has an on-going preparation method and thorough reading of the newspaper only can keep you updated.
3 days away, the revamped yearly CMAT 2016 is waiting for you to explore admission opportunity in one of the 400 AICTE approved MBA/PGDM programmes beginning 2016. Since you wish to improve your low score in CAT 2015, the CMAT 2016 may offer you a big opportunity to get a B-school of your choice. The need is to decide judiciously and remain focused in next 3 days as the CMAT 2016 exam can be attempted well with your ready to apply past preparation that you did for CAT and XAT.
AICTE has revamped CMAT 2016 and from now on it will be a yearly exercise instead of being conducted twice a year. The structure and content of CMAT 2016 remains the same as of earlier CMAT exams. Please note that as against earlier CMAT exams to improve scores in second exam, there will not be any other CMAT for MBA/PGDM admission 2016. You have to score well in one CMAT if you wish to get a good B-school.
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