IMS Learning & PT Education hold seminars on CAT 2009s new avatar

The test prep institutes, IMS Learning and PT Education are all geared up to beat the Computer Based Test that CAT will be from 2009. They held seminars over the weekend to assure the students that they are ready to help them bell the new format of CAT entrance exam.

IMS Learning had organised a seminar titled CAT MAY-TRIX 2009 on May 24 at St. Columbas School, New Delhi. The session was hosted by Mr. Gejo Sreenivasan, General Manager of IMS Learning. On the CBT CAT exam he opined that its nothing difficult. Its the coaching institutes and media who are creating the problem by hyping the CBT. If you know the correct answer you can write it be it in a paper pen based test or a computer based test. If you dont know the answer, you can never write it whatever the format of the CAT entrance exam be, said Mr. Sreenivasan. In order to get accustomed to the environment, IMS Learning will provide adequate online tests. According to him, since the IIMs havent yet revealed whether it will be a Computer Adaptive test or a Computer Based Test, its better not to worry about that and prepare for the basics.

In this seminar, a CAT section-dissection session where all the three sections, Data Interpretation/Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Quantitative sections were discussed and analysed by experienced IMS faculty like Mr. Rajjat Gulati, Captain Walia and Mr. Hanumant Sabharwal for the respective sections.

CAT exam is mainly about aptitude and its all about sharpening the basic skills. The correct answer to a question will always remain same but its about knowing the trick which will help you solve the problem faster. IMS will help you learn those tricks, said Mr. Rajjat Gulati, faculty, IMS Learning. For DI/LR, Mr. Gulati suggested solving Sudoku and Crosswords as they are really helpful.

Captain Walia, who discussed the Verbal Ability section, said that its equally important to know the grammar of the word as knowing its meaning. He suggested associating an image or a context with a word, in that way one can never forget its meaning. For e.g. associate the word sophistication with Amitabh Bachhan. He finally suggested that Dont try to mug up grammar as set of rules. See the meaning and understand the connection.
Mr. Hanumant Sabharwal, who discussed Quant section, said that Maths is nothing but tricks. Try to get the right trick. The second session was about interacting with the last years IMS Learning students who have got calls from IIMs. They provided motivation to the MBA aspirants along with easing them about the confusion about the CBT CAT exam cramming the minds of the aspirants.

PT Education also organised a seminar on CAT 2009 Online entrance exam and its Challenges for CAT 2009 aspirants at the Seminar Halls at various PT Education centers. The Pitampura center focused on What does it mean to have an online Common Admission Test (CAT)? It was addressed by Mr. Ravi Pokharna, Delhi Head. A live demonstration of Gyandhara, a special online service by PT Education where detailed solutions to each and every question provided in study material have been recorded, was given.

The discussion took place in the lines of whether CAT 2009 will be a Computer Adaptive Test or a Computer Based Test. In the first method, one question at a time is given. The next questions difficulty level depends upon the correctness of the answer given by the student. If it is correct, a more difficult question will come and vice versa. On the other hand, in a Computer Based Test, all the questions are given together and the student has to answer all of them at the same time.

According to Founder Chairman of PT Universe, Mr. Sandeep Manudhane, Since IIM is starting Online CAT this year; its unlikely that they may introduce the adaptive method. They are yet to decide whether the candidate will get one question at a time or a series of questions. The time limit might be similar to previous years. He also emphasized on how Gyandhara can help students to prepare for CAT 2009. All they need is a personal computer and an internet connection in order to access the service.