Bell the CAT

CAT 2011 or Common Admission Test 2011 is expected to take place between 27th October 2011 and 24th November 2011. This competitive exam tests the potential of the aspiring students in the field of business administration. On the successful completion of this exam, students will be able to seek admissions to reputed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) spread across India.

CAT 2011 Entrance Examination
The major Indian Institutes of Management situated in the cities of Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode and Shillong are going to incorporate computer-based test (CBT) format. The new format will enable students to choose a convenient date from the given period of ten days.

It is believed that the online test format will prove beneficial for the IIMs, as it will enable them to deal efficiently with the number of candidates that goes on increasing each year. Earlier in the year 2003, there were about 95,000 candidates who appeared for CAT. However, the figure increased to around 250,000 the previous year. This showed a jump of more than 163% in the number of candidates.

Tips for Exam
CAT comprises three sections such as quantitative aptitude, data interpretation and logical reasoning and verbal ability. All these sections include difficult questions, but you can solve them with ease by following certain guidelines.

While preparing for examination, you need to gather all test materials from a reputed coaching center. Taking frequent mock tests on each section will help you measure your progress. You can explore last year’s examination papers as well as run a search on the internet to get solved and unsolved papers.

For verbal ability section, you can subscribe to books and magazines. Daily newspaper reading is also suggested. As per data interpretation and logical reasoning is concerned, it will be better to take up weekly puzzles.

How to Cope With Exam Failure

You spent countless nights burning the midnight oil. In the end, you still did not make it. You failed your exam.

It is definitely normal to feel distraught or depressed, especially if you have given it your all. However, you cannot allow your temporary failure to get in the way of your future success.

Learn to cope with exam failure quickly and effectively:

1. Know that you are not alone. Everyone has gone through plenty of failures, and some of them have worse experiences than you. Winston Churchill did not pass sixth grade. Though he became a prime minister in 1962, he lost all of the other elections he participated in. Abraham Lincoln did not become a successful businessman and lawyer, as well as lost a lot of public elections.

But just imagine, if they had allowed failures to get the best of them, they would not have achieved worldwide recognition.

2. Tell yourself: it is just a temporary setback. Like the examples above, you will not be a failure all your life. Use subliminal messages to pull yourself from the dumps. Every day you can remind yourself the following:

  • This failure is only temporary.
  • I can definitely rise above these challenges.
  • I know I can achieve success.
  • My persistence and confidence can bring me to places.

There are plenty of other subliminal messages downloads you can use, and they are personalized for people who have to deal with failures.

3. Try again. Check if there is a possibility you can retake the exam. If you cannot, you can just make up for your failure in your next examination. In the meantime, you can put more effort into what you are doing.

4. Prevent yourself from falling into depression. The last thing you want to happen is to be depressed. It will only make things a lot worse. You will lose proper concentration, you will not sleep and eat well, you will lose a lot of weight, and you will get sick so easily.

Though it is normal for a person who has failed to feel depressed, it should not last for a very long time. If it does or you think it is getting worse, immediately seek help.

5. Practice proper stress management. You also do not want to go through a lot of stress. Stress is often one of the leading causes of anxiety and depression. Take a breather. Go out with friends or family. Take a trip or a retreat. Do something productive with your time like taking up a sport. By the time you are ready to take the time, you will feel refreshed.

6. Meditate. Meditation helps a lot when you want to be grounded on the present. You do not worry about the past or the present. Meditation can also clear your mind, so it is easier for you to accept and believe in the subliminal messages and affirmations.

7. Obtain wisdom. As they say, experience is the best teacher. Consider your failures as ways to determine your mistakes. Then learn from them.