CAT 2016 registration is proposed to close after 10 days on September 22, 2016 and there are more than 1 lakh aspirants still in the waiting mode whether to register for CAT 2016. Although CAT 2016 exam centre at IIM Bangalore is shying away from sharing the information on number of registrations in the 1 month period, the sluggish trend shows that the progress is slow and it may fall short of the number achieved by IIM Ahmedabad last year while convening CAT 2015.
Responding to the query from MBAUniverse.com whether the registrations for CAT 2016 will surpass the last year number, Prof Rajendra K Bandi, Convener CAT 2016 and faculty IIM Bangalore categorically said “We don’t specifically work towards increasing the number of applicants. The credibility and utility of the test influence the registrations for CAT.” This is true to a great extent also as registrations for CAT are driven by the fact that top B-schools including all the 20 IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, NITIE Mumbai, IMI Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad among others will shortlist the candidates on the basis of CAT 2016.
Around 50 to 60 thousand candidates get admission to IIMs and other 100 top rated B-schools every year on the basis of CAT exam. CAT 2016 therefore offers good opportunity to pursue MBA/PGDM from one of the top B-schools in India and this fact drives the registration number to the exam.
Registration process for CAT 2016 got opened on August 8, and it is now more than 1 month from the date of starting of registration process. In fact, the registration number picks up during the last few days and it is expected that these next 10 days will see good growth in the registration number for CAT 2016.
Low registration reflects popularity loss
In case the registration number increases for the exam, it reflects the popularity of the exam. On the contrary the depleting number shows the popularity loss. There is no doubt that CAT 2016 will be the largest MBA entrance exam but as against its last year registration number of 2.18 lakhs if it dips substantially, the perception that it builds is that CAT is losing popularity.
Past Registration trends in CAT
Last year CAT was marked with higher ever registrations recorded during past 5 years with 2.18 lakh candidates registering for the exam and 1.80 lakhs finally taking the exam. Registrations for CAT in 2015 increased by 14000 as compared to CAT 2010, and by 22000 as compared to the CAT 2014.
CAT in 2015 broke past 5 year record and got higher number of girl candidates registered for the exam. Following the decision of Honorable Supreme Court of India, 80 applicants from the third gender known as Transgender also applied for CAT last year.
The high number of registrations and applications in CAT has been going through ups and downs in number of CAT applicants over the past years. The declining trend got set in when CAT preferred to go green in 2009. CAT 2008 was the last paper pencil based test which suddenly switched over to computer based test (CBT) in 2009.
CAT 2008 had the highest number of registrations also. IIM Ahmedabad with the testing partner agency Prometric was the first IIM to conduct computer based CAT in 2009. However entire CAT 2009 testing window encountered number of technical problems and CAT had to be rescheduled for many aspirants.
The trends in CAT registrations since 2008 show a downward journey initially but since 2013 it has been showing a rising registration count reflecting the regaining trust of CAT aspirants and anticipation of better career opportunities after completing MBA/PGP from a good B-school
| CAT year |
Total registration in lakhs |
|
2008 |
2.76 |
|
2009 |
2.42 |
|
2010 |
2.04 |
|
2011 |
2.05 |
|
2012 |
2.14 |
|
2013 |
1.95 |
|
2014 |
1.97 |
|
2015 |
2.19 (218664) |
Source: CAT data and MBAUniverse.com analysis
Year-wise Analysis
CAT 2008
CAT 2008 despite being non computerized paper pen based test, witnessed highest number of 2,75,873 registrations. This figure has become a dream since then and none of the CAT years have been able to come around this mark.
CAT 2009
In 2009, CAT went green and instead of a paper pencil based test, it became a computer based test (CBT). Registration figures for CAT 2009 witnessed a substantial dip in comparison to CAT 2008 as it couldn’t cross 2.42 lakhs while the expectation was much higher.
The exam also encountered number of technical glitches and the test for some of the aspirants had to be rescheduled in January 2010.
CAT 2010
CAT 2010 saw a further dip in registrations from 2.42 lakhs in 2009 to 2.04 lakhs in 2010. The expectation of IIMs was to achieve a new high in registration in CAT 2010 as Prometric claimed to have done away with all the anticipated problems in CAT 2010. But despite all this the registration count dipped by more than 15%.CAT 2010 had 3 sections with 60 questions equally divided among them.
CAT 2011
CAT 2011 witnessed a marginal rise of 1000 in the number of registrations. From 2.04 lakh in CAT 2010, the number of registrations reached 2.05 lakh in CAT 2011.
The significant change that was seen in CAT 2011 test pattern was that the test got clubbed into 2 sections with 30 questions in each section. From 2011 to 2013 CAT continued with this pattern only.
CAT 2012
Number of applications in CAT 2012 increased by around 4.5 per cent. It was a good sign for MBA education in India and for MBA aspirants in particular as the economic slowdown began to melt then.
While around 2.15 lakh candidate bought the CAT 2012 vouchers, 2.14 lakh candidates actually registered themselves for the exam.
CAT 2013
CAT 2013 registration process got over on September 26, 2013. Around 1.96 lakhs of CAT 2013 vouchers were sold, while the total registrations for CAT 2013 closed at 1,94,516. Analysis of CAT 2013 registration data had females applicants count to nearly 30% of total registrations while applicants with engineering and technology background continued to dominate CAT registrations with around 70% of total share.
But as per the past trends in CAT, not all the registered number of candidates took the CAT 2013 and the total number of absentees in the test was more than 20,000. Revealing the facts, IIMs and Prometric admitted that although 194,516 was the number registered for CAT 2013 but actual test takers were only 173,738. The rate of non test takers remained the same at 11% in 2012 and 2013.
CAT 2014
Registration for CAT 2014 closed on September 30, 2014 with the registration count of 189,759 keeping in line with the trend of continuous dip in number of registrations. CAT Centre 2014 received number of requests and complaints from the candidates that due to technical glitches they could not register and make final payment. Considering the problem the registration for CAT 2014 was reopened on Oct 10, 2014 for one day.
The single day registration in CAT 2014 accounted for 7100 candidates and this enabled CAT Centre 2014 to surpass the registration count of CAT 2013 from 1.95 lakhs to 1.97 lakhs.
CAT 2015
CAT 2015 had the largest number of registrations in comparison to all other management entrance tests. Although 2 weeks ago before the extended closing date for CAT 2015 registration, there was huge dip. The fact was also admitted by CAT 2015 convener who had shared with MBAUniverse.com on Sep 16, 2015 “The registration count is indeed less compared to last year till now.”
As on Sep 13, 2015 there were 92000+ candidates who registered for CAT 2015 even after the lapse of about 40 days from the date of opening of CAT 2015 registration window on Aug 6, 2015. In a week’s time the registration count shot-up to 1.60 lakhs and after extension of CAT 2015 registration date from Sep 20 to 25, the registration count made a smart jump reaching 218664 candidates as at the close of CAT 2015 registration window. The dip got converted into record breaking achievement for CAT 2015 with a mile stone that only IIM Bangalore would like to surpass in CAT 2016 as it is convening the exam.
CAT 2015 registration which had clicked the closing mark at 218664 applicants contained 69176 girls and 80 transgenders implying ever growing popularity of PGP programmes of IIMs and other top rated B schools that accept CAT scores.
CAT 2016: On the same trend or below?
Going by the past trend it is expected that the total candidates registered so far for CAT 2016 might be less than 1 lakh. This number may go up in next week provided candidates come out of dilemma and confusion on various registration and admission related issues.
It is expected that IIM Bangalore would be able to come close to the registration number of last year CAT convened by IIM Ahmedabad, if does not surpass it.
Aspirant friendly changes in CAT registration
CAT 2016 registration offers the facility to choose 4 most preferred test cities and girl candidates will be allotted the testing venue near the city.
Don’t wait for last date; Register early
Waiting for the last day to register for CAT 2016 might put you in some unwarranted difficult situation as CAT has the history of heavy rush during the last days of registration process. The registration process requires entering the required details, uploading the photograph & signature and finally making the payment. There could be problems due to heavy rush on the last day due to which it may cause delay in accessing and completing the registration and payment making on the website.
CAT 2016 exam will be held on Sunday December 4, 2016 in 2 sessions of 3 hours duration each in 138 test cities and more than 650 testing venues. IIM Bangalore is convening CAT 2016 with TCS as partnering testing agency.
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2016
