Confused between CAT and NMAT?
Worried about how to prioritise and choose between CAT and NMAT? To clear your doubts, Richha Bhatnagar of Shiksha.com spoke to Dr. Rajan Saxena, vice chancellor at SVKM’s NMIMS University.
October 11, 2012 is important for management aspirants as both CAT and NMAT will start from this date. NMAT (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies- Management Aptitude Test) is one of the prestigious management exams of the country. Conducted by the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) for students who wish to take admission in NMIMS Mumbai, NMIMS Hyderabad and NMIMS Bengaluru. NMAT 2013 is scheduled to be held from October 11, 2012 to December 19, 2012.
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CAT and NMAT dates seem to be clashing with each other and students are confused which one to take first. What do you suggest in this case?
No, I think there is no clash and even if there is a clash then NMAT is being held over a period of three months from October to December. Students can always schedule their exam whether to go for NMAT or CAT.
As far as NMAT is concerned, we give an opportunity to students to schedule their exam on their own. First of all, students can select the date, time, and center as per their convenience and if the first choice they select is not available then they have to go for the second one.
Secondly, if a student fails in the first attempt due to any reason, then he/she can take the exam again. I don’t see much of a problem in this regard. The scheduling is not done by Pearson and NMIMS, it is done only by students, and 99.9% of the time students get what they want, unless and until they have registered late. Those who register in the end, don’t get the schedule of their own choice. Then they have to accept the time and schedule coming their way.
If students have any more doubts, they can visit the website and check all the things thoroughly.
Will there be any change in the pattern of NMAT?
There will be no significant change in the pattern of NMAT. The structure will remain same, minor changes will be there in terms of questions.
Any last minute tips for students?
Students should prepare hard. It is the only test to get admission into NMIMS. The last year registration figures were 56,000 and we are already up by 30% this year. In this case, the competition will be tougher this year. I would like to suggest to students that instead of giving preference to only Mumbai campus; they should focus on all the campuses.
It is important for all the students to know that in all the NMIMS campuses, teaching pedagogy and quality of instruction is the same, and program structure is personally monitored by NMIMS.
Will NMIMS group discussion get replaced by Case studies?
Yes, in the second part, once the student has been shortlisted, we are planning to do away with group discussion, replacing it with caselets. The main objective of caselets is:
- To identify whether the students are comfortable with numbers
- Whether they are able to think out-of-the-box
- Whether they are able to make out the big picture from those numbers
- Will they would be able to take a decision
- Lastly, their ability to solve a particular problem
Thus, we are doing away with the kind of situation where group discussions turn into cat fights. Unfortunately, the coaching classes have turned the meaning of the group discussions. One should know how to behave in a GD and understand the group dynamics.
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