CAT 2016 registration recorded 6 years high and closed at 2,32,434 candidates finalizing their applications for the exam. The number continued soaring high during last 10 days. It stood at 2.08 lakhs on September 22 as against the 1.83 lakh count of last year for the corresponding period. After getting an extension of 5 days from September 22 to September 27, more than 24000 candidates have registered for CAT 2016 during 5 days. Registration process for CAT 2016 stands closed as at 5 PM on September 27, 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.
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.
13000 More applicants in CAT 2016
Common Admission Test (CAT) is considered as the mother of all MBA entrance exams as it caters to all the top B-schools in India. CAT, the most preferred MBA/PGDM entrance test for graduates from all disciplines is the gateway to 7 older, 6 new and 7 newest IIMs.
The highest registration count during last 6 years in the history of CAT got a shot in the arm in CAT 2016. Registration for CAT 2016 has grown by more than 13000 applicants and finally closed at 2,32,434 applicants as against 2,18,664 applicants in CAT 2015 while it could not touch the 2 lakh mark in last 5 years.
CAT 2016 will offer the opportunity of studying in top B-schools like IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, NITIE, IMI, IMT, BIMTECH, TAPMI, Great Lakes among other highly ranked B-schools.
MBA from IIMs: Popularity on the rise
The constantly rising registration number in CAT year after year, and higher ever in CAT 2016 during past 6 years is a reflection of growing demand for MBA from good management institutes that can ensure better career opportunities after completion of this expensive course.
CAT: Past 6 years Registration trends
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 2016 has now broken past 6 years record with yet higher number of candidates registered for the exam.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 |
|
2010 |
2.04 |
|
2011 |
2.05 |
|
2012 |
2.14 |
|
2013 |
1.95 |
|
2014 |
1.97 |
|
2015 |
2.19 (218664) |
|
2016 |
2.32 (232434) |
Source: CAT data and MBAUniverse.com analysis
Yearly Analysis
CAT 2010
CAT 2010 saw a 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: Creates history-all time high registration count
Belying the fears that CAT 2016 registration might get a dip as compared to last year, the registration count for CAT 2016 has broken past 6 years record since 2010 in number of registrations.
On September 22, before the registration deadline was extended by another 5 days to September 27, the total registrations stood at 2.08 lakhs. Since September 22 to 27, the registration number went up from 2.08 lakhs to 2.32 lakhs, marking a rise of 24000 applicants.
The extended deadline for CAT 2016 registration process was closed at 5 PM on September 27, 2016.
Registration process for CAT 2016 got opened on August 8 and was closed after 51 days of keeping the registration window open. 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
