What it takes?
Stage 1
PBT - Paper Based Test / CBT - Computer Based Test
Every institute has a written test, either its own, or a part of a common test taken by various other institutes. Normally, the entrance tests are of 2 to 2½ hour duration and contain objective type questions.
The "Common Admission Test (CAT)" is a CBT conducted by one of the IIMs (e.g. CAT-2014 is being conducted by IIM, Indore) for all 16 IIMs and other CAT allied reputed B-schools. The test consists of 2 sections, one comprising 50 questions on Verbal Ability(VA, this also includes questions on Reading Comprehension (RC)) and Logical Reasoning (LR) and the second comprising another set of 50 questions on Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Data Interpretation (DI) and Data Sufficiency (DS). There are no GK/General Awareness / Business Awareness questions in CAT. Hence, it is a test intended to test solely one's problem solving ability. The duration for the CAT-14 test is 170 minutes i.e. one gets 1.7 minute to answer 1 question. However, remember CAT always has negative marking. Hence, ensure one attempts only when one is certain on an answer. Any wild guess work shall definitely increase the odds. Also note, one may switch from one section to another and come back to the first one any time later as well.
Stage 2:
Written Ability Test (WAT) / Group Discussion(GD) and Interview: Most of the institutes carry out this phase of the selection process between Feb and Mar.
WATs have almost replaced the GDs as a method of ascertaining as to how widely and deeply a student is able to relate to a particular topic of issue or argument.
Some institutes may replace WAT with a Case Study which needs to be studied and then discussed based on questions given at the end of it. The motive here is to apprehend a candidate's relative ability to analyse the case, his ingenuity in putting forth practicable solutions to the stated problem.
Most IIMs prefer taking WAT in lieu of a GD nowadays. However, this does not mean that one need not be prepared for a GD instead.
WAT tests a student's maturity of thoughts, logic, direction of thinking and attitude while a GD tests the following traits:
Group Behaviour
Confidence
Awareness
Leadership
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Creativity in thinking
Communication skills / clarity of thought and expression
Persuasive skills
Assertiveness
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Reasoning Ability
Initiative
Body language
Attitude to situations
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In short, CAT's written part tests one's hardcore problem solving skills while the latter part constituting WAT/GD/Case Study and PI test his soft skills.
Stage 3:
The Final Call: Having cleared the above two stages, a candidate will receive the all-important Final Call Letter. Most of the institutes ask the candidates to pay the first instalment of the course within 30 days of the date of the call.
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