With the CAT 2016 registration having already crossed 2.08 lakhs, 5 days before the extended last date to apply, it is for sure that the exam would prove to be more competitive than CAT 2015.
IIM Bangalore vide its announcement at 4 PM on September 22, has extended the CAT 2016 registration deadline by 5 more days from September 22 to September 27, 2016 till 5PM. The CAT 2016 exam convener Prof Rajendra K Bandi while extending the registration deadline by 5 days has also shared the vital information that the total number of registrations for CAT 2016 has crossed 2.08 lakhs at 3.30 PM on Sept 22 whereas the registration during the corresponding period for CAT 2015 was 1.83 lakhs.
It thus shows a rising trend by 25000 more candidates registered for CAT 2016 as compared to CAT 2015. During next 5 days this number would further go up and will pose higher than ever competition in CAT 2016.
2.50 lakhs candidates expected to compete
CAT 2016 may see the competition among more than 2.50 lakh candidates as against 218664 registered candidates for CAT 2015.
CAT 2015 had a total number 218664 registered candidates that was the 5 years high registration count since 2010 as at the close of registration even after the extended last date. The CAT 2016 registrations as shared by the Convener Prof Rajendra K Bandi have already crossed 2.08 lakhs and still 5 days are left for the CAT 2016 registrations to close. It is expected that the registration number would rise @ 10000 candidates a day and as at the close of registration on September 27, the total number of CAT 2016 registrations may cross 2.50 lakh candidates breaking the past 6 years record and increasing the competition in CAT 2016.
1 day CAT 2016: Adds to increase competition
The 2.50 lakhs candidates, expected to register for CAT 2016 would be sharing a single day exam in 2 slots on December 4, 2016 with no scope of getting better or poorer scores on account of LOD in different sessions, thus making a competition field more fierce calling for yet higher percentile score.
32000 more candidates expected to register for CAT 2016 than last year will add to the already tough competition in CAT this year. All these candidates will be competing at various test centres across India to enter their dream IIM campus in 2017. It will pose higher challenge for the candidates calling for meticulous preparation to crack CAT 2016.
Common Admission Test (CAT) 2016 will be a single day 2 session exam with many changes in overall and sectional composition of the test which is yet to be disclosed by the CAT 2016 convening IIM Bangalore. But the biggest competitive challenge in one day CAT 2016 with 2.50 lakh candidates is that there wouldn’t be much benefit on account of location and scale difference in the process of normalization of scores as the exam would be summed up in 2 sessions only. As such now the CAT 2016 test takers shall have to compete with 32000 more IIM aspirants than last year.
Greater competition subdues increased intake
So far around 5000 seats are available for admission in 20 IIMs in their flagship programmes. From 2017, the intake may increase substantially as all the IIMs have agreed to the Union HRD Minister, Mr Prakash Javadekar’s suggestion to double the intake in IIMs gradually. In 2017 IIMs may have an increased intake of around 9000 in their flagship and other full time 2 years PGP 2017-19 batch.
This increase will get nullified with the expected 32000 more candidates appearing in CAT 2016. Besides, the high percentilers in CAT aim for top 4-5 IIMs and to achieve that level competition may become tough enough to score the required cut off percentile in CAT 2016.
The only solution is well planned preparation strategy to ace the exam to get into one of the dream B-schools.
Those who have not been preparing so well and were expecting a dip in CAT 2016 registration should wake up as they can expect yet more competition this year.
Newest IIMs prescribe high percentile too
The 7 new IIMs that have begun operation in 2015 and 2016, also need high percentile scores in CAT 2016 to shortlist you for admission to flagship PGP 2017-19 programme. The asking percentile score by these very new IIMs as the minimum cut-off percentile is even higher by their mentor IIMs. Most of them need minimum 80 sectional and minimum 90 and above overall whereas their mentors like IIM Ahmedabad need a minimum 70 sectional and minimum 80 overall. Accordingly to get shortlisted at the first stage by even these new IIMs, you need to score at least a 90 overall percentile in CAT 2016.
Academic profiles: 32000 more to add to competition
A candidate should also qualify on the IIMs’ prescribed standards, to get shortlisted after scoring high percentile in CAT 2016. The addition of 32000 more candidates having varying academic standards will also add to competition in shortlisting process at the first stage apart from CAT 2016 scores.
You can get an edge over your peers if you have excellent academic profile, other than Engineering background, work experience, have been participating in extra-curricular activities as all these will add to the weightage on admission process.
IIMs look beyond your high overall percentile in CAT before offering you admission. Still high CAT 2016 percentile will be the foremost requirement to get shortlisted for second phase of admission round.
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.
Please note that CAT 2016 although offers yet 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.
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