Great Lakes Institute of Management PGPM Admissions 2026
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Balancing CAT preparation with college studies requires strategic planning and time management. Here’s a concise approach to help you prepare effectively:
1. **Create a Timetable**: Allocate dedicated time for CAT preparation daily, even if it’s just 2-3 hours. Focus on one CAT section (VARC, DILR, QA) each day to maintain balance. Weekends can be used for extensive practice and mock tests.
2. **Leverage College Breaks**: Use gaps between classes, study breaks, or commute time to revise formulas, solve quick questions, or read newspapers to enhance your reading comprehension and vocabulary for VARC.
3. **Focus on Basics First**: Strengthen your fundamentals in Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. Use your college academic breaks to dive deeper into complex topics.
4. **Mock Tests & Analysis**: Start taking mock tests early to build exam temperament. Analyze your mistakes thoroughly to improve your strategy and time management.
5. **Consistency over Intensity**: Study regularly, even for short periods. Consistency will help you cover more topics without overwhelming yourself.
6. **Balance Both Priorities**: Ensure your college assignments and studies are managed well to avoid last-minute stress. Prioritize subjects in both CAT and college where you need more attention.
By maintaining a disciplined schedule and staying focused, you can efficiently manage both CAT preparation and college studies.
hope this helps you!!
Hi!
Congratulations on securing 89.27 percentile in CAT. As stated, 89.27 is a good score but you will not able to apply for many of the good colleges as these colleges consider sectional cutoffs as one of the major components while shortlisting candidates for the GDPI process and for the final selection. 32.46 percentile in VARC section is below par score and will not fetch you a call from many of the business schools despite having a good overall percentile. As you have not mentioned your category, I am assuming that you belong to the general category (If you belong to the reserved category, you might get an Interview call from some of the colleges depending upon their selection criteria).
Therefore, I will suggest you to for the business schools which do not give consideration to the sectional percentile and emphasize on the overall percentile. Some of the good business schools that you can target based on your overall CAT percentile are given below:
The list given above is non-exhaustive, candidates can get to know about all the colleges having no sectional CAT cutoffs .
Hello,
Here you can get study material for CAT :
https://bschool.careers360.com/download/ebooks/cat-quantitative-aptitude-questions-answers-pdf
Hope it helps !
Hello Nikita,
To get into any of the top IIMs, such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore, a good percentile in CAT is required, although academics play a vital role too. Let's break it down below:
CAT Score: 98+ percentile is an excellent score and makes one competitive.
Academic Scores:
Your 10th score at 84% is quite good.
A 12th score of 65% is on the lower side, which might hamper your chances at some of the top IIMs since they give weightage to past academic performance.
IIM Selection Criteria:
Every IIM has its own weightage for the scores of academics, CAT percentile, work experience, if any, and diversity.
For example, IIM Ahmedabad requires consistent academic records, while IIM Bangalore puts the strongest focus on work experience and diversified profiles.
Graduation: You are currently pursuing graduation, and your performance during that will also be considered in the shortlisting process.
While your CAT score is going to be the major pointer, your academic record-doing in class 12-is going to affect your prospects a bit at IIMs that place significant emphasis on your past performance. Still, you will have a healthy shot, at least at institutes like Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore, where a good score in CAT may offset lower marks in academics.
If you have diverse profiled extracurricular activities, leadership roles etc, or work experience, then it can build up your application further.
Hello!
Prep for CAT 2024: Application Pattern
Syllabus: Focus on those areas that fall under the syllabus; for instance, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.
Books: Stick to standard books from renowned authors, say, Arun Sharma for Quant, Norman Lewis in vocabulary, and some mock tests available from TIME, IMS, or Career Launcher.
Mock Tests: Take mocks and study the mistakes made.
Time management: F ocus on speed and accuracy.
If you need a more structured approach, consider a coaching institute.
Start early and become a regular.
Wishing you the best! thankyou!
Hello,
While starting your CAT preparation late can be challenging, it's still possible to achieve a good score with focused effort. Prioritize understanding the exam pattern, and focus on key areas like Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability.
Create a structured study plan, practice regularly with mock tests, and review your performance to identify weaknesses. Use quality study materials and consider joining a coaching class if time permits. Stay consistent and motivated, and remember that dedicated effort in the coming weeks can lead to positive results.
You can refer to the following article for help :
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/last-minute-preparation-strategy-for-cat
Good luck!
I understand your situation, Aishwarya. Preparing for the CAT while balancing your final year of engineering can be challenging, especially without coaching. However, with dedication and the right approach, it's definitely possible to crack the exam.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses:
2. Build a Strong Foundation:
3. Effective VARC Preparation:
4. Online Resources:
5. Create a Study Plan:
6. Stay Motivated:
While coaching can be helpful, it's not essential. With dedication, perseverance, and effective study strategies, you can definitely crack the CAT and achieve your goal of getting into IIMB.
Remember, starting now is a great decision. The earlier you begin, the more time you'll have to improve your skills and build confidence. Good luck!
For more information about CAT exam you can go through the link attached below.
https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
Yes, your 12 months of work experience as a government teacher is eligible for the CAT exam.
The CAT exam considers work experience post-graduation as a factor for admission to management programs. However, it does not specify that the experience must be in a specific field or obtained after a particular degree.
Your experience as a government teacher, even though it began before your graduation, is valid. The CAT exam evaluates your overall experience and its relevance to a management career. Your experience in a government role demonstrates your ability to handle responsibilities, interact with people, and manage tasks.
Therefore, you can include your 12 months of work experience in your CAT application. Be sure to highlight the skills and experiences you gained during this time that are relevant to management studies.
For more information about CAT exam, you can go through the link attached below.
https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
Yes, your NCL OBC certificate from Uttar Pradesh is generally valid for the CAT exam.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to various management programs. The CAT exam is governed by the Indian Government, and therefore, your NCL OBC certificate should be applicable for availing reservations or benefits provided to OBC candidates in the CAT exam.
However, it's always advisable to double-check the specific requirements and guidelines of the CAT exam
to ensure that your certificate meets all the necessary criteria. You can refer to the official CAT exam website or contact the IIMs directly for any clarifications regarding the validity of your certificate.
For more information about CAT exam you can go through the link attached below.
https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
Hello,
In the context of Karnataka's reservation categories, Vishwakarma is classified under Category 2A . Specifically:
Hope it helps !
The college infrastructure is exceptional, with modern, well-maintained facilities, state-of-the-art technology, and top-notch sports facilities. The campus is Wi-Fi enabled, with a vast library and excellent classrooms. Overall, the infrastructure is outstanding, providing an ideal learning environment.
Architecture by Charles Correa. Modern Infrastructure with proper Facilities and Equipment. Classrooms are Air Conditioned with Comfortable Furniture and smart Classroom Model. Decent Library and Sports Area, Hostels are Well Ventilated and Receive adequate Sunlight. Mess is Hygienic and Spacious.
Infrastructure and building design of IIFM is considered to be a work of art. It has all the required facilities like smart classes, computer lab, auditorium, WiFi connectivity throughout the campus, etc., within an expansive green space of 230 acres. Swaruchi Mess, the student-run Mess, works tirelessly towards providing nutritious and hygienic food. IIFM has a brilliant collection of books in its library and regularly updates the same. Apart from all this, it also has a dedicated sports Centre
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