IIM Calcutta officially released the CAT admit card for CAT 2018 on 24th October at 1 PM, and it's now available for download. We know you've been working hard to game up your CAT prep, and we hope that QS-LEAP is doing its personal best in bringing out the best colors in your preparation. Free prep resources + free online classrooms everyday = happy prepping! :) It's time to take a break from your prep for a bit, and head to iimcat.ac.in, because your admit card for test day is now available for download! Yes, you're getting closer to the big day, and fast! The Indian Institute of Management’s Common Admission Test (CAT) 2018 is set to be conducted on November 25th, 2018. The last date to apply (September 26th) has passed, and now we're rapidly heading towards the final countdown! You now have a window of 33 days to download and print your CAT admit card. Here are the easy steps to download your admit card from the website: Visit the official IIM CAT website. Click on the Login button on the home page. Enter your designated User ID and Password and hit ‘Login’. You'll be taken to your candidate dashboard, where you'll see three tabs - "Applicant Details", "Application PDF", and "Admit card". Click on the "Admit Card" tab. You'll be prompted a drop-down menu, titled "Assessment", where you must select "Common Admission Test CAT 2018 25th Nov 2018" Hit "Search" You'll see three segments below, on the right - "Course", "Subject" and "Action". There'll be a clickable "download" button directly below "Action". Click on it. The admit card will be downloaded from the page, and you can print it out. That's it. You're sorted. What's new this year? The admit card has three new features that you must know of: Reference Number Emergency Contact Google Map Link (for you to get the location of your examination center on Google Maps) Handy, isn't it? Just make sure to click on the G-Maps link, while you're on the page (and well, on a computer!). Now that your admit card is out, you'll know if you have been allotted the morning session or the afternoon session. The timings for the morning session are 9 am to 12 noon. And the timings for the afternoon session are 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Don't worry if you haven't got the slot of your choice. Neither slot is easy or hard. Remember that the final marks are going to be normalized! Once you're done with the download, go back to our free CAT resources and prep hard! The QS-LEAP team wishes you all the very best for your exam! Happy prepping! :)

#CAT Preparation

There has always been a lot of hullabaloo around the topic of corporate growth and placements in general. The internet is filled with everything from articles giving you tips on climbing the corporate ladder to motivational videos on the best ways to become successful. But the confusion in this topic is ever so prevalent. There are various important and unique attributes and strengths that need to be built to excel in the corporate world. From having the knack of cracking any interview to building the soft skills required for people management, the corporate industry has some very high demands. We got in touch with the MD, SDA Bocconi Asia Center, Alessandro Giuliani to expand on-campus placements, corporate networking and other elements of a successful career. Alessandro Giuliani after graduating from Bocconi University in Italy, started a career in Luxury Marketing in a few MNCs & moved to senior Marketing roles. Since 2011, he acts as the Managing Director of SDA Bocconi Asia Center previously called MISB Bocconi Placements are extremely stressful for students, especially freshers, what is the one word of advice that you would give to students prepping for campus placements?  Campus placements always appear more stressful to students, mainly because of the lack of confidence. With a country like India, where the talent pool is much wider, it becomes increasingly more tensing. However, I believe there are two key factors that can make or break a placement opportunity – confidence & soft skills. I have witnessed people impressing the interviewers by merely being confident of their knowledge on the forte and bagging the jobs of a lifetime. While it may sound too clichéd, confidence is often the most important accessory of an interview, especially for on-campus placements. Another crucial factor will be soft skills. Although this has been a recent area of focus and development in the education sector, soft skills have been one of the most important traits that the corporates hunt for. Contrary to popular belief, soft skills do not simply mean having strong communication or interpersonal skills but also includes critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, decisiveness, etc. Soft skills are crucial for managerial roles and also essential to every team player. My simple advice to students gearing up for campus placements would, therefore, be to practice confidence building exercises. Building soft-skills is also an essential, not just for the students but for anyone who is looking to succeed in the corporate world. You say soft skills are essential to building a successful career. What is the best way to inculcate soft-skills?  Soft skills and behavioral coaching are usually taught at the masters’ level in India. Changing this trend and including these topics early on will help to identify people’s strengths and thereby accelerate their growth in the corporate world. I have seen the lack of soft skills hampering people’s development and advancement. There have been various cases where a person is extremely knowledgeable and knows his area of expertise; however, they lack the basic skills to communicate effectively. Intelligent students have often lost the perfect job opportunities because of lack of soft skills. I would, therefore, urge students to take initiative to build their soft skills. People in India have an added advantage as they are exposed to the most diverse society and are extremely adaptable by nature. While they have a natural affinity to problem-solving (or as people call it ‘jugaad’), there is a drastic gap in formal training which acts as a setback for many people who cannot put their abilities to practical use. What are the initiatives taken by SDA Bocconi Asia Center to enable soft-skill development amongst your students?  At SDA Bocconi Asia Center, we have fine-tuned the post-graduate programs to increase the focus on subjects like marketing, strategy, and HR, with the belief that this will help students to think critically. There have been various simple yet critical steps that we take at SDA Bocconi Asia Center to push our students to think logically. We mainly focus on two types of skills – personal and professional. While both of these skills have various elements of soft skills, this distinction helps the student to develop their emotional intelligence while continuing to build their managerial skills. We use experimental methods of teaching that are highly interactive and also offer special soft-skills training workshops to our students. In addition to this, we use more case studies, group projects, and fun activities to inculcate the soft skills according to industry demands. We also have various International faculty as well as students that come for a semester exchange, and this facilitates stronger cross-cultural sensitivity in our students. These unique add-ons make our talent pool accustomed to working in a diverse environment. The extracurricular activities enhance the behavioral competencies in our students who host and participate in various business competitions. How can institutions help employers in talent retention?  There are various cases of students taking up jobs based on the fancy designations, higher pay packages and fancy perks. However, most candidates do not actually understand what their actual job is about. There is a gap between the employers and the candidates that lead to increased cases of reneging. At SDA Bocconi Asia Center we have increased opportunities for corporate interactions, live projects, and internships. Therefore the candidates get a fair idea about how the industry or corporate actually works and have a clearer picture of what they are getting into. This is the simplest way to educate students and future employees on what lies behind the jazzy designations and alluring paychecks. SDA Bocconi Asia Center is a player in an industry that is undoubtedly over-populated. Where do you see this institute in the coming years and how do you stand out from the crowd?  The education sector in India is filled with opportunity and while there is no denying that the competition is stiff, SDA Bocconi Asia Centre’s key differentiator is the consistent focus on practical experience and the rich academic expertise. We believe in building a talent pool that is holistically developed and easily adapts to changes. The global exposure offered by SDA Bocconi Asia Center and our continuous focus on building future industrialists who have a knack of problem-solving on a wide spectrum and a keen eye for details (in markets or business environments). To sum it up, we believe that our clear vision and philosophy backed with reliable expertise will help SDA Bocconi Asia Center to stand out as a leader. The SDA Bocconi Asia Center is the hub for SDA Bocconi in India and Asia at large. The school of management based in Milan, Italy, inaugurated its Indian presence in 2012 through MISB Bocconi catering mostly to the local Indian audience. As MISB completes six years, SDA Bocconi establishes it as SDA Bocconi ’s pan-Asian hub, with a broader scope across India, the Middle East, China and the rest of Asia. This article is generated and originally published by ET Spotlight team. Read the original article here. SDA Bocconi Asia Center is the prime sponsor of CAT preparation on QS LEAP. You can read more about their programs here.

#SDA Bocconi Asia Center

The Indian Institutes of Management (better known as the IIM's), who are the hosts and organizers of the computer-based Common Admission Test 2018, or CAT 2018, have released the much-awaited CAT 2018 notification on the 29th of July, 2018! If you're a first-time CAT applicant willing to take the test this year, this article is for you to scourge over comprehensively! For starters, know that the CAT exam is slated to be held on the 25th of November, 2018 in two slots. The host and organizer for this year's (2018) CAT exam shall be IIM Calcutta! You should also know that Singapore Management University, or SMU, which is an International B-School, has now joined the IIM's in welcoming the CAT score as an acceptable demonstration of MBA aptitude. In other words, SMU now accepts CAT scores as part of their B-school admissions process! And you can use your CAT scores to apply to this school! Your handy 4-step guide to CAT 2018 We have simplified the CAT 2018 Notification release into a 4-step guide to CAT 2018, so that you understand what are your next steps from this very moment, as you read on. Step 1: Check your eligibility for the test Yes, an IIM admit is on your mind! But, you need to check if you qualify to take this test even before you can start preparing for it. The completion or near-completion of an under-graduate or professional degree is an absolute must-have for you to even think about the CAT exam. If you fulfill either of these three criteria, you are eligible to take the test: A completed Under-graduate/Bachelor’s degree in hand with the required* percentage of marks. A completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA) in hand demonstrating the required* percentage of marks. A student in the final year of your under-graduate degree expecting a mark-sheet with the required* percentage. In case you have completed your degree and are merely awaiting your results, you may also apply  * The required percentage represents at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. For SC/ST/candidates or candidates with disability, the bar is lower at 45%. Refer here to understand eligibility more elaborately. Some categories of candidates are entitled to a reservation. You will find details of the reservations at the given link as well. Step 2: Register for the test Now that you know if you are eligible to go ahead and take the test, you must register yourself for the test! The registration window will open on the 8th of August, 2018 and will remain open till the 19th of September, 2018 (5:00 p.m.), so make sure you complete the process within that time. To register, you will have to visit the official CAT website, and fill out the application form (to be released on August 8th), which you will find under the Registration tab. Once registered, you will receive your test credentials- User ID and password, via email and SMS. This year (2018), 147 cities (2 up from last time because of the addition of Mizoram and Nagaland) across India will have CAT exam centers. The test can only be taken at these centers. During registration, you will be asked to select 4 cities in order of preference for test administration. After the last date of registration, candidates will be allotted one among the four preferred cities as per availability. Usually, candidates are allotted their individual cities as per their selection, but if not (rarely so), you will be allotted a city nearby the preferred ones. Your final center will appear on your CAT admit card, which will be made available for download between 24th October, 2018 and 25th November, 2018. There is a registration fee of Rs. 1900 involved. If you are an SC/ST/PwD Candidate, your fee will be Rs. 950. Step 3: Prepare for the test Now that you have registered yourself, and set your mind on the CAT, it's time to prepare for the test! Start by acquainting yourself with the CAT exam pattern, which has remained unchanged since last year. Here's what it looks like for CAT 2018 (3 topical sections and a total of 100 questions on the test!): Section No. of MCQs No. of Non-MCQs Questions from each section Total Marks Time allotted to each section (minutes) Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) 24 10 34 102 60 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) 24 8 32 96 60 Quantitative Ability (QA) 27 7 34 102 60 Total 75 25 100 300 180 The questions carry 3 marks each (+3). For each wrong answer, you will be marked in the negative (-1). If you are part of the QS-LEAP community, you should already have access to free practice questions for each of these sections! As you practice these topics for free, know that we conduct free ONLINE CAT classrooms for you to attend as well. So if you feel the need to target and master specific topics within each of these sections, then register for our upcoming online classrooms through this link, to attend them all! Step 4: Take the test! 25th November, 2018 is a Sunday! And the two exam slots have been facilitated to ensure that every registered candidate gets a seat (Yup, a lot of people register for this test!). Note that the questions in both slots will differ in content and level of difficulty. Slot-1 is a Morning Session (9AM to 12Noon) and Slot-2 an Afternoon Session (2:30 PM to 5:30PM). So, yes, it is a 2 hour long test, comprising of three sections (as shown above). You get 60 minutes to answer the questions in each section and you shall not be allowed to switch from one section to another when you are within one section. As specified above, some questions are MCQs (multiple-choice type) and some others are not (they demand direct answers and have to be typed into the screen). You may not carry your own calculator. You will be allowed the use of a basic on-screen calculator for computation. 17th October, 2018 onwards, a tutorial explaining the format of the test will be made available on the CAT website. You are advised to browse through the tutorials well in advance, to ensure time optimization on test day. On the 17th, the CAT mock test will also be released to familiarize candidates with the exam pattern, structure and test navigation. Note, however, that this mock test is meant for practice only and the questions should not be treated as sample questions that will ultimately resemble the questions on the actual exam. If you'd like to start your practice right away, then sign up on www.qsleap.com/cat to access your dashboard of free prep questions and mocks! The early bird is always the wise bird! One day before your test, remember the following: To check your admit card to ensure it's printed on an A4 sized paper (keep a copy handy), and that you have your photograph pasted and your signature legibly signed on it. To see if you have a valid proof of photo identification (either of these will do: College ID, Employer ID, Driving License, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, Aadhar Card, Identification Affidavit). To check how far your Test Venue is, and what are your means of getting there. Factor in travel time when you plan the next day. You must arrive on (or even before) time. Ideally, you must be there 90 minutes before the commencement of the CAT exam. Note that you are not allowed to carry mobile phones, electronic gadgets, watches, calculators, stationary items, papers, wallets and other valuables (no matter how valuable) inside the examination room. So please keep that in mind when you leave home to take the test. Anyone accompanying you on test day will also not be allowed inside. The CAT website contains a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section that addresses some of the commonly asked queries regarding CAT 2018. Please browse through this section in advance to be at the top of your game. Beyond this, you may also contact the CAT help-desk over email or phone. After your test, your CAT 2018 score card will be made accessible on the CAT website (typically by the second week of January 2019) to access, and you will be intimated about the same via SMS. If, as the early (and very wise) bird, you wish to understand the IIM selection criteria right away, even before you take the CAT, then please refer to this document. Hope this guide has helped! Further (detailed) information on CAT 2018 may be obtained from the CAT website. You should now know what your next plan of action is. In case you have completed steps 1 and 2, as written in this guide, please proceed to begin your preparation for CAT 2018, QS-LEAP style! It really is completely free! Sign up and create your free CAT study schedule now! Happy prepping!

#CAT Preparation

The final leg of CAT 2017 has begun! IIM Lucknow, the organising authority for this year, has released the notification for CAT 2017. According to the notification, the CAT will be held on November 26, 2017. The registrations have already begun on August 9, 2017. The exam will be conducted in two sessions. Test takers have the option of selecting four test cities in order of preference. If you are taking the exam for the first time, make sure you go through all the steps carefully on the official site. Also, remember that graduates must have at least 50 percent marks to be eligible for the exam. Students under reserved categories must have at least 45 percent marks in their graduation. The CAT registration fees is Rs 1800/- for general category students and Rs 900/- for reserved category students. The CAT score card is valid till December 31, 2018. Here are all the important dates for CAT 2017 in a nutshell: Details Deadline Registration start date August 9, 2017 Registration end date September 20, 2017 ( 5 PM) Admit card available for download October 18, 2017 ( 1 PM) CAT 2017 exam date November 26, 2017 CAT 2017 results January 2018 (Tentative) The CAT is your gateway to all the IIMs and top management institutions of the country. We would urge all QS Leap users to register for the CAT 2017 as early as possible and avoid any last minute work. Timely CAT registration will ensure that you are up and ready to rock the final leg of this prestigious management exam! Start your CAT Preparation on QS LEAP here: https://www.qsleap.com/cat/   

#CAT Preparation

Both CAT and GRE are tests to assess the potential of aspirants while applying to the leading universities and B-schools. While CAT is acceptable to the top ranking business schools in India, GRE is used in many international colleges/universities for admission to their graduate programs. Syllabus of CAT and GRE is similar in many respects but it differs in terms of difficulty level and format of individual sections. These tests assess the skills inculcated by students, especially in their high school studies. Each of these varies in terms of parameters defined for testing of these skills and conceptual knowledge of candidates. Here you can find the main dissimilarities in these two tests: Syllabus of Verbal in CAT and Reasoning in GRE: Reading comprehension is integrally used in both these tests but their format is entirely different. CAT requires candidates to answer questions based on the comprehension provided while GRE may include selection of a text from passage to answer the questions. Vocabulary is intensively assessed through GRE. It is much tougher in this exam when compared with CAT. GRE asks word-selection and multiple-choice type questions related to vocabulary. Similarly, CAT also lays on these question types instead of using out-of-context vocabulary. CAT has additional questions based on paragraph formation, word usage, etc. Syllabus of Quant in CAT and GRE: In both these tests, quant section has questions from algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and arithmetic. However, level of intensity largely varies from one test to another. Quant section of CAT is much difficult as compared to that of GRE or even GMAT. Another difference is in the format of questions. While CAT requires candidates to select only one correct answer for a question, GRE may ask them to select multiple answers or even type-in the right answer in some questions. Analytical Writing Assessment: In GRE, AWA or Analytical Writing Assessment has 2 writing tasks that test the ability of candidates to formulate new ideas, support them with reasons, examine the evidence, and offer a well-focused assessment. This essay section is found in both GMAT and GRE while there is no such test in CAT. CAT is a linear examination while GRE is section adaptive test where level of difficulty varies according to the performance of candidates in previous section. Lastly, it can be safely added that by studying CAT’s quant, you can beat this section in GRE while verbal of GRE helps to beat this section in CAT. Related Articles: Everything you need to know about CAT examination When do you think you are ready for taking your GRE?        

#CAT Preparation