Déjà vu - CAT '06 and '07..

A few days ago, I was asked to write an article on the possible patterns of CAT '07 paper to send to one of those online dailies. As I sat down to write the article sometime today evening, I was reminded of the article I had posted precisely a year ago on the same topic. And so I decided to open the post and go through it. To my surprise, I found that I had predicted two things correctly back then - that it might be a 75 question paper and we might be given 5 options. Although I did think these scnearios would be unlikely, I was pleasantly surprised when I found the same in the paper. On the whole, I believe I was prepared for those cases and hence was least shocked. And when the shock element goes missing, the paper looks much more easier, right?

So lets fast forward to CAT '07. Considering the trends that are being followed over the past few years, the number of questions are being reduced gradually - from 123 in 2004 to 90 in 2005 and then finally to 75 in 2006. Now one could expect the number of questions to go down to 60 which would just mean that the paper might be on a higher difficulty level. Or they would stick to 75 and raise the bar slightly.

Also every CAT paper has something new and different to offer - at least one of the three sections are more difficult than usual. (Assuming there are only three) In 2005, it was DI with more logic-oriented questions; for us in 2006, it was Verbal with the "Judgement, Inference and Fact" types of questions. So there is a good possibility that this year, the Quant section will be the toughest with something new added just to spice things up a bit.

On a final note, I guess I will repeat the same words as last time - do not waste time in questioning whether the changes in the paper are justified or not. Be flexible. Do not enter the exam hall with a fixed mindset. Do not panic on seeing the changes. If it is difficult for you, it will be difficult for the majority of CAT aspirants. Believe in yourself. Nothing is better than a good dose of self-belief! And do not get stuck on any question. And most importantly.. do not forget your admit card! ;)

All the best to all the exam takers. May the force be with you! :D

Note: You can find my post on CAT '06 here. And my views aired here are pure speculations. You are not told the CAT question paper even if you're studying in an IIM! :D

Quote of the day:

The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.

PS1: I completed 2 years of blogging sometime last month.. Oct. 24th I think.
PS2: I forgive my father.. I forgive my boss.. I forgive my friends.. I forgive my barber.. I forgive the government.. I forgive my past.. I forgive them all.. I feel like.. I feel like God.
PS3: I am very, very happy! :D Tomorrow only 3 classes - 2 of them require no pre-class reading! Alright!! :D Of course, that is not the only reason why I am happy.
PS4: PS2 was the Bajaj Avenger Ad lines tailored to my context. That ad is legendary!
PS5: Ate awesome food.. freaked out with friends.. rode at 75 kmph.. and a very memorable night! A starry one too.. :D

mama mia!

So after a long hiatus, I am back into the blogosphere - only to disappear again into the shadows of blogger's blocks but then let us live the moment, shall we?! :P Between the time I last posted and now, lots of things have happened. Our summers process took place and yours truly made it to SET - Sony Entertainment Television. So if you think Sony has been airing crappy programmes think no further! Just change the god damned channel! :D Before I digress completely, ahem.. I have been posted in Mumbai. So any attractive female readers of mine out there in Mumbai, please mail me across your address and phone numbers.. and may be we can have a chat over a cup of coffee. What say? :D *ducks*

Moving on.. *sigh* I celebrated my first Diwali away from home. Never knew it felt so crappy to celebrate Diwali away from home. The food here was awesome, lots of competitions were held and the junta was quite enthusiastic about it. But then, somehow felt quite uneasy.. :( I guess this is just a beginning of a long stretch of festivals I'd miss celebrating at home. You can find more on how we celebrated Diwali here. And btw India won the 3rd ODI against our "friendly" padosis. Now how cool is that! :D

On a different note, our first semester grades are out. I scored a very respectable GPA of 2.83 out of 4.33. I have cut down on studies lately so as to be able to do other things like this and this. Life has been slightly hectic but I've started liking it more and more. Right now, I am running a Make-Gokul-fat campaign as I raid friends' rooms and loot food from them. I wish I were Mahmud of Ghazni.. looting is so much fun! :D However, I've not been putting on much weight as was evident from my mother's reaction when I had been to Hyderabad recently. But the looting shall continue!! >:)

PS1: I will be back in Hyderabad sometime next month. :D
PS2: Missing home.. :(
PS3: Happy Diwali to one and all! :D
PS4: Its 7 already! Going out to eat at Taj.. friend's treat.. >:) time to launch another looting expedition! :D
PS5: And ManU is through to the next round. BTW Heroes rocks. And is anyone reading the Naruto Manga.. woo hoo! :D
PS6: Someone was telling me the other day that I should market my blog more aggresively. Idhar bhi marketing!? /:)
PS7: I was just wondering.. is there any relation between the title and the post? hmm.. Guess and win exciting prizes! :D
PS8: This is the end.