With CAT 2020 being over and results being out has left a lot of students with unexpected results and in a huge dilemma. Students who are not getting the desired result are not sure about their next step are worried if they will have to take a gap year to appear in CAT 2021.
Although taking a gap and start preparation for CAT 2021 is actually not a bad option if you want to study in any of the IIMs but it is not the only option. There are plenty of B schools out there still available to you. These schools are equivalent to some of the top IIMs and some are even better than the baby IIMs. Some of them namely XLRI, Narsee Monjee Mumbai, Symbiosis Pune.
The entrance exams for these universities such as XAT, NMAT, SNAP, IIFT are conducted after the CAT exam. They are also known as OMETS ( Other Management Entrance Test). Just like the CAT, they are nationwide exams, and students across India appear in them.
They are assumed to be easier than the CAT exam and more scoring if you prepared well for the CAT. The overall preparation remains the same with Quantitative aptitude, Verbal and logical reasoning sections remaining the same across all the exams with slight changes in terms of addition and subtraction to the paper.
For instance, there is a Decision-making section in XAT but not in any other exam. Then there is GK tested in XAT and IIFT but not in NMAT & SNAP.
It is a great opportunity for students looking for a management course from a Top B-School. Prepare well for these exams and ensure that you don’t miss your chance, then analyze your mistakes in the CAT exam. Are those silly mistakes or a topic in which you need more practice.
Revise your concepts but practise even more. This time it should be 70% practise and 30% revision. Write mock papers and prepare additional topics. By the time the test date approaches you will be confident and better prepared.
By Shirin Tarachandani
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