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Rahul Reddy, Director of T.I.M.E., Kolkata, who tackled queries during a recent chat suggested: "Dedicate 40-45 minutes to each section and a little more to the weaker sections." For those of you who missed it, here's the second part of the transcript:

Part I: Top strategies for CAT 2006

bhushan asked, i am in my final year and want to take my cat this year, but many people advised me to get a work experience and then go for an MBA. what is your advice?

Rahul answers, Hi, what do you lose by making in attempt this year? If you make it, you gain a few years. Else, it will help next year anyways.

deepak asked, Hi Rahul, has ISB been a lower limit of experience? I have 26 mths in IT. Does ISB consider CAT Score
Rahul answers, Hi, should be enough for a chance. 

Intrepid asked, Hi Rahul, I usually manage 97+ %s in Verbal, 90+ % in DI , but only 70-85% in QA in AIMCATs for a total of about 91 - 97 % overall. What do you think these scores will translate into actual CAT? I'm am working hard on QA btw.
Rahul answers, Hi, please check chat transcript for Quantitative Analysis. 

anth asked, Hi Rahul, do students get a chance to pick what electives they want in the second year, or is that decided by the institute? Thanks
Rahul answers, Hi, full choice of electives in most top B-Schools.

the-lighthouse asked, Should we consume equal time in the three section of should we spent more time in the comparitive weak section provided I have done enough to go past the cut-off of a particular section?
Rahul answers, Hi, about 40-45 in each section. A little more in the weaker sections. 

Vasumathi asked, Hi Rahul. I have 3 yrs IT experience as of date. I am preparing for CAT 2006. I am pretty confident abt DI & Qa but not abt verbal. What is exactly the new pattern for 2006 and would it effect me in any particular way? Could you suggest any tips for it!
Rahul answers, Hi, the pattern changes over the last two years have only changes number of questions and marks per questions. The type of questions have remained mostly same. Verbal Ability questions involve paragraph forming, best summary, sentence correction etc

rdivya asked, Sir: I am gvg CAT for second time though first was not worth mentioning. I have corr-mtls,books by Arun sharma, etc. But attending PG course at college allows only self-stuy. Problem areas are QA and DI Level II ques. It is not explained step-by-step and hence once started not able to go beyond. How to tackle this. Wud u support any personal coching?! Thnx.
Rahul answers, Hi, do visit nearest T.I.M.E. centre for advice. I am sure they will meet and help even you are not a student.

suman15k asked, Hi Rahul I am BIT,Mesra BCA(3rd year) student with 89% marks and score 93 percentile in AIMCAT? Should I hope to get a call to Top B Schools if also Will they consider me as I am a BCA?
Rahul answers, Hi, 90 percentile or so will not be enough for top 10 B-Schools though you can get calls from good B-Schools.

the-lighthouse asked, I gave CAT last year and managed a decent 86.79 percentile. The "DI" section is the thorn in my flesh even though my maths is decent,what should I do? What should my area of focus be if I am aiming for MICA Ahemdabad?

Rahul answers, Hi, MICA has sectional cutoffs, so do not focus on any one section only. They also have a separate MET test if you get interview call. 

AAnkit asked, HI Rahul! can u please tell me cutoff for IIM indore?
Rahul answers, Hi, not very different from other IIMs. Last year students got calls at 97.55 percentile.

Anish asked, Hi Rahul what %ile wud fetch a call for XLRI?
Rahul answers, Hi, XAT 96-98 percentile for BMD. For PM and IR, one or two points lower.

hari asked, i have 48 months exp in a telecom service provider(bsnl)i am 28 now iahe a Masters in engg ,do iget any pbm in placement if i happen to persue mba from iim ,as iam much intrested in placement...
Rahul answers, Hi, should not be a problem. 

bhushan asked, is it true that the iim's are slowly decreasing the intake of students with no work experience
Rahul answers, Hi, no deliberate strategy. Happening because more and more students with work experience are writing CAT. The percentage of freshers is about 40 to 45 per cent.

shramik asked, Hi sir i am littele bit confused as i am going to give cat but some body told me that if not cat then the best alternative is IBSAT what should i do shall i apply to IBSAT
Rahul answers, IBSAT is for ICFAI There are a number of good colleges under CAT that you can get at various percentages. Also other exams like XAT Some cetres of ICFAI like Hyd, Mumai, Gurgoan are good. But please note ICFAI is very expensive ie about  Rs 7 lakh +. 

hari asked, What could be min cutooff in Verbal Ability?  
Rahul answers, Hi, the minimum cutoff is 12-13. 

v asked, any particular tips for cracking DI/DS/LR sts, since i always foul up that section
Rahul answers, Hi, need to get 6 to 7 marks in the 1-mark question area. Weak students should select only 1-mark and 2-mark sets carefully and crack it. 

shownin asked, this means there is no respite once u get into A B OR C there too u need to compete and slog it out to get a cream IBANKING or consulting offer
Rahul answers, Yes. In fact, slogging is now taken to a very high level. 

rajkumar asked, What should be the strategy for CAT 2007? Please answer me Sir.
Rahul answers, Hi, start early. Your basics must be strong. You need good guidance.  Spend two to three hours everyday. Solve lots of questions

manie asked, hi sir,i've written cat alst year too,n due 2 sm personal prbs,ended up wid 58%ileonly,i graduated in engg dis year n now prep full time 4 mba since july.. m tkng up coachng 4m Cl,bt smhow i dont feel contended wid d coaching n material.class room stdy is different den wat appears in mocks..n dese mocks also m landing up jes a score of 12-21,hvnt crossed further.. so plz suggest me how 2 prepare a schedule n raise my score..since its a do or die situation for me,i cant thnk of gc=vng it a try next year..i hv 2 do it dis year only n dat too 4m a gud b-school
Rahul answers, Hi, you need detailed guidance. Please contact nearest T.I.M.E. centre and speak to director/ senior faculty. 

Jinesh asked, Hi Rahul, I have around 2 years of work experience in a research company. I am a commerce graduate and want to do MBA with focus on finance and systems. Is it an ideal combaination?
Rahul answers, Hi, finance and systems is good. But why be in a hurry. Most good B-Schools ask you to choose specialisation in year two, by which time you have more knowledge, experience. 

rahulmahobia asked, what are the institutes to be applied through CAT score?
Rahul answers, Hi, there are many.

MDI, SP Jain, NITIE IMT: 95 percentile.

LBS, IMI, FORE, TAPMI, KJ Som: 85- 95 percentile.

Welingkar, NIBM, etc: 75 percentile +

bk asked, I have 7 yrs of exp,when i look iim's students profile,i find average exp level is 1-3 yrs. Do you i am late in thinking for CAT

Rahul answers, Hi, let's say you are in the minority. It is still not too late. But do look at a one-year full time executive MBA programme.

talk2steve asked, Hw good r Colleges like Bhartidarsan,IISWBM
Rahul answers, Hi pretty good. Would require a CAT percentile of 80 +. Also 100 per cent placement with about 4 lakhs average salary.

Anish asked, Hi rahul , How does an MBA degree helps a History student? Why MBA after History?
Rahul answers, Hi, everybody has a similar problems. Why MBA after mechanical engineering, mining technology, metallurgy, BA psychology, BSc Microbiology etc. Let's just say that you took History out of interest and the study has helped give you become methodical, analytical etc.

time asked, Hello Rahul, am having 2+ yr wrk exp.(non IT),basically I have done my B.Tech frm IITB (2004),what are chances of getting into ISB and prospects after tht !!
Rahul answers, Hi, two years on the lower side, but inside the acceptable level. Prospects of ISB are phenomenal.

shekhar asked, I am working in a MNC which has offered me for an executive course conducted by IIM Kolkata. it is a one year duration weekend course. Is the value of such executive courses is comparable to full fledged MBA courses.? please suggest
Rahul answers, Hi, the weekend course are a good value add but not equivalent to full time in terms of career boosting potential.  

anirban asked, hiii can u tl me any 4-5 imp chap in quant?
Rahul answers, Hi, numbers, geometry, mensuration, permutation & combinatoon functions etc.

Ani asked, Hi Rahul sir! You are not answering me? Is it necessary to give exam just after tenth?
Rahul answers, Hi, CAT if for post graduation. So, you need to complete graduation or be in final year.

sidRulz asked, Hi Rahul, i just wanted to know how does 2 yrs of IT experience help in selection process at the IIMs.
Rahul answers, Hi, it helps, but first we need to crack CAT.

Vinay asked, Is there a separate cut-off for those applying with work experience? Or is it the same for everybody?
Rahul answers, Hi, slightly lower overall cutoff. 1 to 1.5 percentile only. 

abhik asked, Does the increase in time implies increase in CUT-OFF??? What shud be the last minute strategy to crack CAT??
Rahul answers, Hi, as far as our experience in AIMCATs goes, not much. So expect similar cutoffs as last time for sections two to four marks more overall. 

Rahul says, Hi, thanks you everyone. That's just enough time for today. Hope it was helpful. All the best to everyone. Please e-mail info@time4education.com for further queries