CAT admission process is conducted into several phases. The first step for candidates is CAT written test. However, After the completion of rounds like WAT, PI, etc. the final merit is prepared based on various factors; out of which Gender Diversity and Academic Diversity are the two important factors that can get high scores in the final merit list of CAT 2021. CAT 2021 will be conducted on November 28 and candidates should ensure that they take into consideration factors like gender and academic background and how they aid in your selection process.

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In order to strategize the academic diversity, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have decided to revise and relax the CAT admission criteria and to offer higher weightage to non-engineers to increase academic diversity. Similarly, female candidates will also be getting 2-5 points extra in the final merit list based on Gender diversity criteria. 

Therefore in order to maintain the diversity among the MBA aspirants, the institutes have made efforts to offers equal opportunity to the non-engineers and female candidates by improvising their admission criteria. Let's read out to know how these institutes are maintaining diversity among the students. Also Check CAT Score Calculation

CAT Academic Diversity Approach in IIMs

• IIMs such as Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Kozhikode shortlist a candidate for WAT and PI rounds on the basis of certain criteria. At the different stages of selection, the applicant’s “Rating Score” is used.
• An applicant's rating score is the sum of the rating scores ‘A', ‘B', ‘C' and ‘D' based on their percentage of marks obtained in the 10th standard, the 12th standard, the bachelor's degree program (depending upon the discipline) and work experience respectively.
• Here, the percentage score in the Bachelor's Degree for non-engineers is kept higher as compared to non-engineers. 

For eg - Table below indicates the Rating Scores for the Bachelor's Degree Examination for IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission

Gender Diversity at IIMs

Gender plays a role in the selection process at IIMs. The institute provides special privileges to female aspirants. “At the shortlisting for our interviews, we have a criterion called gender diversity factor, where we give extra marks to female candidates. This has borne good results for us,” said Himanshu Rai, director, IIM Indore.

• Over the past few years, there has been a certain increase in the number of female candidates appearing in CAT exam.
• As the institutes are offering better opportunities to female candidates, the trend is expected to increase in the upcoming years. 

Points awarded by some of the IIMs to Female Candidates under Gender Diversity Factor:

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CAT Cut off 2021 (Expected)

Tabulated below is the sectional as well as an overall general category cutoff score of the top 5 IIMs. 

Read More CAT Cutoff

Decrease in Weightage of CAT Score

• CAT exam is the basic selection criteria for the further rounds of the admission process. A list of students who will appear in AWT and GD/PI is formed after combining the weightage of CAT with other criteria like, 10th score, 12th, score, score in bachelor’s degree programs, and work experience. 
• The weightage of the CAT score is kept maximum amongst all the other criteria. With the change in admission criteria, IIMs change the weightage each year. It has been found the weightage of CAT Score is slightly lowered in the selection process and more weightage is added to gender criteria. 
• With the decrease in the weightage of the CAT score, many candidates get an opportunity to make into the IIMs, irrespective of their performance in the bachelor’s degree program. 

Check CAT Participating Colleges

CAT Preparation Tips for Non-Engineers

It is a preconceived notion regarding CAT Syllabus, that it is majorly dominated by the topics that the engineering aspirants have already studied in their graduation time. Especially in the Quantitative/ Mathematics Section. But, this is not exactly true. Let’s talk about each of the sections separately, so as to get a clear understanding of them all properly:

For Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

VARC section is conducted to test your confidence and fundamentals of the English language. This is one of the critical section of the entire CAT Exam.

• This is a section that will consist of questions where have to mark or correct the grammatical errors.
• You may also have to go through the Verbal Reasoning Questions so they are designed to test your potential to identify the relationship or pattern within the sentences or group of words.

For this section, it will not make any difference if you are from engineering or from a non- engineering background. We have been studying English since we were children, hence attempting questions from this section will not be of any problem. All you need is to have a good command of English Grammar.

What you can do to crack VARC section?

The best thing for you to get perfect in this section is to READ! Read as much as you can. This will not only help you to crack this section but if you qualify the CAT written exam, the reading will also help you to communicate better in the upcoming PI (Personal Interview) and GD (Group Discussion).

• You can read from Print Media like Newspapers, Magazines or Books or you can also read Online from various good websites.
• If you will start reading regularly, it will actually help you in your future as well. As it will not only help you communicate smoothly but also improve your vocabulary, which in return will leave a good impression on the person you will talk to.

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For Mathematics or Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Now, this is the section that is considered to be in favor of engineers. It is believed that it is comparatively easier for the engineers to crack this section. This is because of the fact that they already have covered these subject in their course time. First of all, you need to know that QA and Math are both different.

• As per Mathematics is concerned, it only requires basic maths skills that have already been covered by most of you in class 10^th and 12^th.
• All you need to do is to polish your mathematic concepts from class 10^th and 12^th and you will be good to go. You should be clear that CAT does not focus on any of the theoretical ideas but in the application of basic concepts. This essentially means that your knowledge of basic arithmetic and proportionality tools, numbers, time-speed distance, elementary combinatorics, algebra, and geometry is more than enough to help you crack the test.

Basic mathematical skill is just one dimension of the QA section and the other dimensions are more important. The other dimensions are:

• The ability to perform in a pressure situation, observational skills, decision making, adaptability/flexibility and finally, an ability to comprehend the questions.

How can you solve a CAT Quantitative Aptitude problem?

Solving a QA question is a step-wise process and the basic algorithm is as follows:

Step 1: Comprehension of question

Step 2: Interpretation, that is, what is given and what is required, etc.

Step 3: Problem-solving (If required)

Before moving to Step 3, however, one should explore all the possibilities of answer option elimination through various approaches such as observation or through finding out the range of guesstimate values after analyzing the extreme cases. To inculcate the above set of skills, one needs to practice hard. Hence, all you need to do as a candidate is to PRACTICE as much as you can. The more you practice, the better it is for you. Check CAT Practice Papers.

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For Data Interpretation (DI) & Logical Reasoning (LR)

This is the last section in the CAT Exam, which is again very tricky and requires a lot of brainstorming. DI and LR are less knowledge-oriented and more skill-oriented. These areas involve fewer concepts and require regular practice. Practicing under time pressure is important. Whether you are an engineer or a non-engineer, this section is an equalizer in the true sense.

• To excel in DI one should be conversant with the application of some of the most repeated tools related to percentages, proportionality tool, averages and alligations. Students should be clear with “how interpretation is different from calculations” and “how one can avoid unnecessary calculations in DI”. In calculation-based DI questions, if you can calculate mentally it will be an advantage. The judicious use of on-screen calculators also saves precious time.

Tips to Solve DILR

You have to identify the right set of practice questions for yourself because practice are either very easy or too difficult to solve. So while practicing you have to keep in mind that you go different types of questions.

• A good strategy and practicing all the possible questions will help in developing in-depth knowledge.
• Do not waste time on one question and set an upper time limit for yourself. This will help you in managing the time during the exam.

We believe CAT being a difficult examination, can still be cracked. All you need is a focused approach with the will to excel. Also, it is believed that the solution is embedded within the problem, hence try to understand the problem first and then answer it. But, you should make sure to not waste time on a question you are unable to understand. We wish you all the best and also hope that your hard work pays off! 

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