TRENDS AT CAMPUS - AN OVERVIEW !!!!

Ever since the arrival of the first Campus this season on the 9th of July {AMDOCS}, some patterns have been visible in the methodolgy of conduction of the Campus drives. An innovation in the past couple of years introduced by Companies like CSC is the Emphasis on Extempore {in the CSC drive they term it as JAM - Just A Minute} whereby the ability to spontaneously express oneself as well as command over communication is tested. The importance of the Technical round has increased especially in context of Companies like TATA MOTORS {One of our students successfully cleared a 78 minute Technical + 26 minute HR round}. The IT Honchos - TCS , INFY , WIPRO , ACCENTURE have toughened their Aptitude Tests a bit on the whole while a few have given direct clearance to the Top 5 of Every branch for a direct Personal Interview.

Chnages in CAT pattern - Cosmetic. Period.

So here was a "Jor Ka Jhatka" that the CAT convenor for the year seems to have given the MBA aspirants. A harmless interview on this year's cat -the proverbial "dheere se lage". I am referring to the changes in CAT-11 unveiled recently.

But is it really "Jor Ka Jhatka"? Not really. Here is why.

Ok !! Lets focus on similarities

** CAT remains a computer based test. :-) Well it would not have been otherwise. Would it?

** It still has 60 Questions. So no surprises there.

** It stays an objective type questions on Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. So if you have been preparing for CAT - relax you are still on the right track.

** In fact, they have announced 5 extra minutes (thats after they added 15 min to the historical time of two hours, two years back). It is now a 140 Min. test.

So what is the bombshell about? Here are the changes and their implications

** The test now comes in a two sections package - instead of three sections earlier.

So instead of three sections of 20 qs. each you will now face two sections of 30 Qs. each. Doesn't make a bit of a difference - does it? You have exactly the same number of questions as earlier and roughly the same time (in fact more).

** The two sections now are Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VA & LR).

This should mean that in terms of design what has been done is that the earlier section of Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) has been divided into two halves (approx. 10 qs from each section) & each of them has been merged with the other two, respectively. If this interpretation is right, there is hardly any change from the earlier pattern.

** The two sections will now be TIMED sections. You will get exactly 70 minutes to negotiate each section.
Now for a person preparing for CAT and wishes to take a balanced show at it - this also does not make much of a difference. Think about it - if you have been preparing for last year's CAT pattern - you were most probably following a strategy of giving each of the three sections 45 min each. so what would you do if you were told that there will be now two sections of 30 qs. each. You would distribute the time of the third section equally among the other two. The timed sections are equivalent to you following the same strategy by default. That's all.

So then - does this new patter makes any difference at all? Yes, it does. Here is my take.
It takes the sheen away from those performers who used to take uneven time for these sections. There are a few students who try and cut down time from one section and give more time to one other section to maximise their scores. They will feel the heat as there strategy has been killed.

At a macro level - this change should help non-engineers as most engineers try and finish off the language section quicker so that, they can spend more time with the mathematical sections. This helps them score better overall. This may not be possible now.

But honestly, I think even this is not true anymore. From the time CAT became a computer based test, it provides an average of two minutes per question - which is fairly comfortable time to attack a test of the level that CAT is. So any additional time given to a section does not really mean better score in that section.

So friends, I think the changes in the CAT should rattle only those performers who carry this fact in the mind that it has changed. Otherwise the changes appear only cosmetic. Stay focussed. All the very best. 

THE SLAYING OF THE ASSASSIN .........

With the highly efficient operation conducted by the US Military , with help from
the Navy Seals , The curtain finally fell on the life of the world`s most dreaded and
notorious man - Osama Bin Laden. The Mastermind behind the 9/11 attack was the
symbol of terrorism & evil in the world and it is a moment of relief for the entire
human race to see the end of an era of bloodbath conducted by Laden. Even thogh
the War is still very much on against terror , but a crucial battle has been won.
Long live humanity !!!!

THE RELEVANCE OF AMUL !!

With the termimg of the dashing and dynamic 41 year old youth icon, Rahul Gandhi, as a Amul Baby by the octogenarian Kerala CM, one comes to realize how deep the Brand has got embedded into the Common Indian Psyche. Generations have grown up eating and watching , on hoardings , the UTTERLY BUTTERLY DELICIOUS Delicacy. It is a perfect example of a product having effortlessly sneaked into the mindset of the common populace and also speaks volumes on their part of the maintaining of the immaculate quality which has been unmatched. Long Live AMUL !!!!

LAST MAN STANDING !!!!

Anna Hazare Has Single Handedly Demonstrated What The Valour And Single Minded Integrity Combined With Unflinching Honesty Can Do. To Have Made A Dent , Though A Very Small One , In The Seemingly Impregnable Fortress That Is Corruption India , Itself Speaks Volumes That The Old Urdu Couplet Still Holds True "Aasman Mein Bhi Chhed Ho Sakta Hai , Ek Pathar Toh Tabiyat Se Ucchhalo Yaaron".

The Great Unifiers....

A unique sense of camaraderie and unison pervades the nooks , streets and corners since the past few days in eager anticipation of the much awaited showdown between the two continental giants in the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup`2011. Cricket is one of the three strong unifiers in the country , the other two being war and festivals. Be it Diwali or Eid or Christmas or an India - Pakistan Class , on the green field or the battlefield, the vibes in the air are palpable. As someone very aptly noted "The Most Notable Facet Of The Indian Populace Is The Fact That Their Souls Are Essentially Simple And Uncorrupted". JAI HO......

ENGLISH COMMUNICATION - THE THREE VERTICES....

Paradoxical it is to. Amongst the three pillars of English Communication i.e.
Grammar , Vocabulary & Fluency , which is the one that is most vital ?
Whether it is Error free Grammatical Command which matters most or
a richly garnished & impeccable vocabulary which is prominent or flawless
fluency which in crucial ? No doubt all three are very important and desirably
one should establish command over all three but it would be really interesting
to know which one should be conquered first !!!!