Business schools in India base the admission to their institute on Entrance Examinations, followed by the Group Discussion for applicants who have passed the test. The final step is the Interview of shortlisted candidates. The first and foremost step is the Test, that has to be conquered to make it to the next step. The entrance examination is usually a difficult one especially the Common Admission Test (CAT for IIMs, MDI etc), Xavier Admission Test (XAT for XLRI, XIM, XIME, BIM etc), Management Aptitude Test (MAT for AIMA). A few pointers if kept in mind can make cracking the exam much easier.
Tip 1
The paper will test your Quantitative Ability, which is a significant section and quite easy. You have to work constantly towards it. Mental maths should be practised so that you can answer the questions without paper calculations correctly and thus save time. This is possible only if you dedicate yourself to maths and find out new formulas to make answering a quick process. You need to develop an aptitude for quantity.
Tip 2
Analytical Skill is the next important skill that will be tested. You need to have very strong power to analyse and a sharp reasoning capability. Firstly you need to know the formulas and then have them at your fingertips. Equally essential is knowing their application, that is when and how should they be put to use to answer which question. Trying permutation–combination also helps. This is a scoring segment only with practice.
Tip 3
The third testing parameter will be your Visual Skill. You require to have strong observation power for this. This can be acquired by dedicated hard work. Your power of observation should be so strong that you can tell even if a small needle changes its position in your room. It is not an easy art to master but very beneficial.
Tip 4
Another skill that will be of your Ability to Comprehend. You will be given a comprehension passage. The aim should be to spend the least time possible in reading it and still be able to grasp the content, and answer the questions. This is difficult for those who do not practice. You should emphasise on understanding the meaning and focus of the passage and not to memorise it. Do not spend too much time on it; just get an idea so that you can answer most questions without referring to the passage and if required, you know exactly where you will find the answer.
Tip 5
Verbal Skill is the other art to be got. Find out new words to improve your vocabulary. The dictionary and various websites will be of great utility. When you see or hear a new word, find out the meaning and its synonyms. This will surely help you score in this section.
Tip 6
The not so significant part of the paper but of immense importance at this stage and later on, is your General Awareness. Grasp it and avidly try knowing all events and facts. All your life you will need this skill; and let preparing for the Exam be the starting point.
In the Entrance Examination, the candidate is marked on a scale that is dependent on various factors. It is calculated on the number of questions you answer, the number of them that are correct and those that are wrong, and the level of difficulty of the questions that you have attempted. Paying needful attention to these tips will improve your chances of getting through the best business school in the country.
