The college admissions scene has evolved over time. Institutions have become more adaptable, and both examinations have now been generally recognized throughout the world. 

SAT prep or ACT prep, however, does not have to keep you up at night when it gets to final selections. Make sure you know the essentials for all of the tests, assess your personal strengths, and then get to studying! While both exams are meant to gauge what you gained in high school, the SAT is a stronger predictor of abilities you’ll really need to thrive in college and your job.

Difference Between SAT and ACT

The SAT is more concerned with how effectively you can apply what you have learned rather than how well you can recollect it. This is why you’ll find ordinary math formulae offered during the SAT exam, but the ACT will want you to extract them from your mind. 

Choosing whether to take the SAT or ACT is a choice that must be made as early as possible, not only to allow yourself sufficient time to do SAT prep or ACT prep, but also so you can enroll for an examination date before the college admission deadlines.

Time Duration of SAT and ACT

It is important to know what to anticipate on test day for the SAT and ACT so you can choose the one that is right for you. If your preferences lean primarily toward scientific knowledge, the ACT may spark your curiosity with its science-specific part. The SAT doesn’t neglect scientific information; rather, it’s interwoven throughout the whole exam. Assessment for the SAT takes place over a 3-hour time frame with an extra 50-minute essay section, which is optional. The ACT is administered in the same length of time as the SAT, but includes an extra 40-minute essay section. 

Length of Math Portion 

In comparison to the ACT prep, the SAT math test has fewer questions. You also have additional time to finish the SAT math test, which offers you more time to solve each question. In the SAT, the math test is broken up into two sections so that you may take a break (and additional breathing!) in between each section. Take advantage of this! Understanding when you’ll be completing the SAT prep or ACT prep can help you study. After all, you will not run a marathon without ramping up your stamina first, would you? SAT prep or ACT prep for a test is akin to this.

Choosing between SAT or ACT

In order to accurately assess your strengths and shortcomings, you will need to become well-versed with the ACT prep or SAT prep whatever you choose. Once you’ve accomplished this, you may begin to concentrate on the subjects you’ll have to address prior to the test day. With a given timeframe for each question, you will want to develop the ability to pace yourself appropriately and to guess just when time dictates that you proceed.

Invest the effort ahead to know yourself as a test taker. You will be at a loss no matter which test you take if you better equip yourself on test day with proper ACT prep or SAT prep. Spending only ten minutes a day practicing mock tests will put you well ahead of where you would be if you did nothing. When it relates to registering last-minute, the SAT affords more versatility. Late registration costs are reimbursed for a fee waiver–eligible candidates. 

Wrapping Up!

Choosing between the SAT and ACT should not be the most difficult part of applying to colleges. Both may be used, depending on your specific interests and wants as an individual participant and potential college student. Both are equally valid. Think about things like: Do you know how long each test will take? How different it is from the others in structure, schedule, and content? With this information, you can select which one is the greatest match for you.

Preparing for entrance exams and competitive exams is never easy and if its the Common Admission Test (CAT), one of the toughest examinations to crack in the world, then you surely need an extra edge. Students who aspire to enroll in the best business schools in India go through grueling preparations for it.

This year, CAT is expected to be conducted in November and students have begun devoting a lot of time, effort, and energy to acing this wonderful exam.

However, to lessen the tremendous burden on students, this year the number of questions might be brought down from previous years’ pattern.

In 2020, the authorities had reduced the total time of the test to two hours from three, in view of the mental toll on students taken by the pandemic. This length will also be used for the upcoming CAT exam.

CAT 2022: test Pattern

The CAT 2022 test consists of three main sections - Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and memorizing Comprehension (VARC).

Aspirants must score between the 95 to 99 percentile to have a chance at these elite institutions.

As CAT is extremely competitive, aspirants need to have proper preparation to crack the exam. One of the most important tactics for successful CAT preparation is getting acquainted with shortcut techniques.

Aspirants can try these last-minute preparation tips to get that extra edge.

Clarity in Basics

Always remember basics are the answer to any problem. Make sure your notes are comprehensive on the fundamentals and that you are correctly revising them on a regular basis. Quality preparation materials can save a lot of time and energy.

Learn Quicker and Shorter Formulas

For the exam, learn shorter and easy to remember formulas. This strategy will save a lot of time while working out each problem on paper. This trick will surely help in the QA section.

Practice a Lot

Set timers and complete practise tests within the allotted time limit. Try to reduce the time with every practice test.

More Focus on Easier Questions

Avoid wasting too much time on difficult questions. In order to save time during the exam, solve simple questions first.

Familiarise With Marking Scheme

Learn how to use the current format, including marking answers, switching between questions, flagging some parts for later, etc. Several mock tests are available online to practice this trick.

Analyse Your Mock Test

Examine your mock test answers carefully. Make a note of your biggest areas of error and the other areas that require improvement. Take extra tests to correct mistakes and Improve accuracy.

Don’t Panic

Keep your cool as you work through each section. If you are stuck in a difficult question, move on to easier questions and mark the challenging ones for later.

Students sometimes put off taking the MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT in the hopes of getting a better score the first time around because they are balancing coursework, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities. Standardized tests, like college admission, require a great deal of forethought and effort on the part of students. If a student is hoping to get into the institution of their dreams, MCAT prep, GMAT prep, GRE prep, or LSAT prep is a crucial part of the process.

Importance of Test Prep Books 

Even though there are several advantages to standardized test preparation, many families cannot afford to pay huge amounts of money for tutoring or preparatory classes. However, test prep books are available in a significant budget range, just as college degrees are. There is a multitude of ways to prepare for a test, from personal instructors and huge courses to low-cost guides and free internet resources. It is worth your time and money to prepare for the MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT if you use test prep books. Here’s why:

Helps you Keep Track of Your Progress 

Keeping track of one’s progress might assist students narrow down their selection of potential colleges. It is critical to establish a list of goals, reach, and probable schools as a part of MCAT prep, GMAT prep, GRE prep, or LSAT prep. There is a multitude of elements that go into compiling this list, one of which is the likelihood of an applicant getting admitted based on their grades and test results.

In order to compete in the admissions process, a high GPA is required. While a perfect MCAT prep, GMAT prep, GRE prep, or LSAT prep does not ensure admission, a poor score may swiftly push a candidate to the “no” list, standardized exams are a means to an end in college applications. Standardized test scores, as well as grades and course quality, are often acknowledged by universities as one of the top three variables in admissions choices. That’s why parents and students alike put a lot of emphasis on improving their test scores.

Assists to Learn Strategies 

Not only do students study material, but they also learn strategies. The assumption that a person’s ability to do well on a standardized test is completely dependent on their aptitude is a myth. The test-taking technique is just as essential as a solid understanding of the material for students to perform well. Students may get the most out of their study time and performance by working with a great test prep book. MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT demand a wide range of abilities, including the ability to evaluate question complexity, the process of reasoning, and speed.

Improves Test Scores 

Exam marks may be improved with even a little amount of study. How important is it for a student’s prospects of admission to raise their test scores? A slight rise in standardized test scores might play an important role in an admissions decision, as per a NACAC study of prestigious universities. No matter how high or low a student’s test score is, an increase of only 10-20 points might be the difference between a “yes” and a “no.”

Students may increase their MCAT, GMAT, GRE, or LSAT score by 30 points by completing only one or two guided practice sessions. Many students have seen their test scores rise by four points or more after only one or two hours of studying test prep books. Increasing one’s test score by one point, from 27 to 31, might open up previously out-of-reach opportunities for a student.

Summing Up!

Students might expect to see benefits, however, they will have to put in the effort. Test preparation is often ridiculed because of the perception that students get little benefit from it. Students that study hard for their scores may see big changes even if they only gain a few points, despite what some opponents say. It takes a lot of time, work, and determination to Improve your results, just like any other exam. Only those pupils who are willing to put in the effort will benefit from test prep books.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level entrance test for admission to the various post-graduate/MBA/Fellow (PhD) programmes at the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs). The computer-based test for admissions to the 2022-23 academic year will be held in three sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening on 27 November.

Usually, the scores of these three sessions are normalised to prepare the rank list. Each IIM centre has their own unique selection method. Besides the CAT score, the selection may be based on separate written exams, group discussion, interview and the academic history of the candidates.

The state-wise list of the business schools, apart from the IIMs, that use the CAT scores for admission has been published on the website iimcat.co.in. In Kerala, there is only one such institute, while Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have 5 and 9 institutes respectively.

Interested candidates can register from 3 August until 5 pm on 14 September on the website. The registration fee is Rs 2,300. Applicants from the Scheduled Caste/Tribe categories and persons with disabilities need to pay only Rs 1,150.

The registration fee could be paid using credit/debit cards or internet banking. The candidates need to pay just this amount even if they apply to more than one institute.

20 IIMs
The IIMs are in 20 Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bodhgaya, Kolkata, Indore, Kasipur (Uttarakhand), Kozhikode, Lucknow, Nagpur, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Ranchi, Rohtak (Haryana), Sambalpur (Odisha), Shillong, Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur and Visakhapatnam.

Exam centres
There are around 150 CAT centres in India. In Kerala, the centres are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur Kozhikode and Kannur. The candidates have to choose at least six centres, in the order of preference, in the application form.

Eligibility
Those who passed graduation in any subject with at least 50% marks can apply. The applications of final-year students too would be considered. Applicants of Scheduled Caste/Tribe categories and persons with disabilities need 45% marks.

The grade point average will be converted into marks using specific criteria. The candidates could also have a professional qualification that is equivalent to graduation. Those who are qualified chartered accountants, compamy secretaries, cost accountants and have membership at the Actuaries Institute too can apply.

There is no age bar to write CAT. Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classees, Economically Weaker Sections and persons with disabilities would get reservation of 15, 7.5, 27, 10 and 5%, respectively.

Other details
Proper training and taking the test with confidence is the key to grab good scores in CAT. Just as in the written test, the candidates could train in group discussion and interview too. However, the training centres often charge high amount as fees.

To know more about the test and other details, the candidates can refer the ‘FAQ’ section on the website or contact the help desk at 1800 210 1088, cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in.

Test pattern
Even though CAT is a computer-based test the 120-minute test isn’t conducted online.

There are verbal ability and memorizing comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning and quantitative ability sections in the test.

The candidates would get 40 minutes to complete each section.

The multiple-choice questions carry 3 marks each. Meanwhile, 1 mark would be reduced for each wrong answer.

For the descriptive type questions, the candidates have to type in the answers. There won’t be negative marking for this section.

A calculator will be shown on the computer screen for calculations.

Admit cards, mock tests, results
The admit cards would be uploaded on the website on 27 October. Meanwhile, the mock tests would be available on the website by the last week of October.

The results are likely to get published by the second week of January. This CAT score could be used until 31 December, 2023.  

Animesh Bisoee   |   Jamshedpur   |   Published 09.08.22, 03:30 AM

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level aptitude test conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. It is one of the oldest and the second largest test for MBA/PGDM admissions. The XAT test will be conducted in 80+ cities across India.

XAT examination will be conducted on January 8, 2023 while the registration begins on August 10, 2022. The last for registration is November 30, 2022 and XAT Admit card can be get from December 20 onwards. XAT Registration Fee is Rs. 2000 while XLRI programmes fee is Rs 200 per programme, said a press communique.

XLRI programmes include Business Management Programme (BM), Human Resource Management Programme (HRM), General Management Programme (GMP), Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) and XLRI-Rutgers Double Masters Programme

The scores of the XAT will be valid for admissions at XLRI Jamshedpur and other Xavier Associate Management Institutes. Apart from these, the scores are accepted by over 160 premium B-schools across the country.

It further said that with latest technology and testing patterns, the XAT test provides a holistic assessment of prospective business management candidates. It’s critical to assess the decision-making of the candidates and this sets XAT (xatonline.in) apart from any other aptitude test.

Candidates who have completed three years of bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline, recognized by a university or Deemed University, are eligible to apply. Those completing their final examination by June 10, 2023, may also apply.

XAT examination will be almost like the previous years and expected pattern for 2023 will be Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation and General Knowledge.  

The number of questions varies year to year. There will be approximately 22-30 questions in each section and total number of questions will not exceed 100-105 including General Knowledge.

General Knowledge will not be used to determine the cutoff and will be used only during the interview stage.

For more than 72 years, XLRI has been conducting Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) on behalf of XAMI. XAT is a national-level MBA entrance test held annually for admission to management programmes at XLRI and other top B-schools of India – Loyola Institute of Business Management, Chennai, St. Joseph’s Institute of Management, IMT Ghaziabad, GIM Goa, Sri Balaji University, TAPMI Manipal, XIMB Bhubaneswar, FORE School of Management, New Delhi etc.