The number of testing days this year has been increased to 21 days within the window from 11 October to 6 November 2012. The CAT vouchers will be available at selected Axis Bank branches from 30 July to 17 September 2012 and the registration window will be open from 30 July to 19 September 2012.

Similar to the previous year, the CAT 2012 will have only two sections. The first section will focus on Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; the second on Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. These two sections will be implemented sequentially with separate time limits. The examination will be for 140 minutes. Candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section which will have an on-screen countdown timer. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second section and will no longer be able to go back.

A 15-minute tutorial will be provided before the start of the test, and candidates are advised to go through that carefully before starting the main examination. The total duration will be two hours and 35 minutes including the tutorial. A practice test to provide candidates with a feel of the timed sections, as well as navigation and functionality of the actual test is available on the CAT website www.catiim.in . Candidates are advised to go though it carefully to familiarise themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.

“There are no significant changes to the CAT this year,” said Professor SSS Kumar, CAT 2012 Convenor. “Over the past 3 years, IIMs and Prometric have been reviewing and improving the processes to provide a smooth experience for candidates. This year, our focus remains on conducting the test in a fair and secure manner.”

“Based on candidates’ registration patterns from previous years, we have allowed for a longer registration window this year,” said Soumitra Roy, Managing Director, Prometric India. “Candidates are advised to register early to get their preferred choice of location, date and time.”

For more details on CAT 2012, including videos on the registration and scheduling process, as well as test day procedures, please refer to www.catiim.in .

Indian Institutes of Management

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) were established by the Government of India, starting from the early 1960s as national school of excellence in Management Sciences. Over the years, the IIMs have evolved into global institutions that impart high quality management programmes that stress on innovation, ethical leadership, and cutting edge management research. The Economist labelled IIMs as the “toughest” b-school in the world to get into. Currently there are 13 IIMs named as IIMs Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kashipur, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Shillong, Tiruchirappalli and Udaipur. The entry to these national building institutes is realized through the Common Admission Test, popularly called CAT. It was, and continues to be, a source of pride for the faculty involved with its conception and delivery year after year, and is possibly the exam that accounts for the highest number of eyeballs and scrutiny of general public and media alike.